On a weekend when Millwall fans trashed each other, Di Canio invoked his mother, and Newcastle fans battled with police , there were more pleasant scenes to be witnessed at Zaragoza’s La Romareda stadium.
During the La Liga match between second from the bottom Real Zaragoza and top of the table FC Barcelona, aggression took the form of some taunting Viva Españas and occasional collective protest of contested referee decisions, thought to have been biased in favour of the visitors.
In fact Barca showed how good a team it still can be without Messi, when the rump of the first team are reenforced with spirited youngters desperate to prove themselves.
But more striking were the three standing ovations by the whole stadium to Barca players. The first to Abidal , for his courage in enduring a long battle with cancer, the second and third to Xavi and Iniesta respectively for contributing to the success of Spain’s national team.
It was not always as civilised at La Romareda. In February 2006, Samuel Eto’o, at the time Barca’s lead striker, threatened to abandon the game after being subjected to racial abuse by home fans. But seven years on, Spanish football has shown it can get its priorities right, not just in the way it plays, but how it behaves.
