Banned Motta asks Uefa to act over Busquets 'theatre'

Amateur theatrics from Busquets helped get Motta sent off (GETTY IMAGES)

Bad feeling between Barcelona and their Champions League victors Internazionale was still rumbling on last night as the Inter midfielder Thiago Motta, who will be suspended for the final, pleaded with Uefa to take action against Barça's Sergi Busquets.

Motta, who once played in Busquets' position for Barça before being sold by previous manager Frank Rijkaard, was sent off during the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Nou Camp on Wednesday for pushing Busquets in the face. The Inter player said: "I have seen the television pictures of how he looks up to see what action the referee is going to take and then continues rolling over. It is not the first time he has done it and Uefa should really do something about it."

Earlier lip-readers working for Spanish TV claimed to have revealed comments made by the Inter coach, Jose Mourinho, to Barça counterpart Pep Guardiola just after the sending off.

Guardiola had been in conversation with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the touchline when Mourinho approached the pair and allegedly said into the Barcelona coach's ear: "The best team in the world should not have to revert to theatre to get a rival player sent off." Both Ibrahimovic and Guardiola appeared stunned by the comments.

Barcelona's problems escalated yesterday when midfielder Xavi pulled out of a light training session and admitted he is a doubt for tomorrow's La Liga trip to Villarreal. Xavi attempted to explain the moment Barcelona tried to rain on Inter's victory parade on Wednesday night, turning the pitch sprinklers on as the visitors celebrated in front of their own fans. He said: "They tell me that the hoses were turned on because some of the Inter supporters wanted to get on to the pitch."

Xavi also spoke of the confrontation at the final whistle between the celebrating Inter coach and Barça keeper Victor Valdes."It was just a moment of tension, Mourinho is like that so what can we do?" he said.