Referee Busacca’s colourful history

MASSIMO BUSACCA is not thought to have reacted when Arsene Wenger confronted him in the Camp Nou tunnel on Tuesday night, but if he did it would not have been the surprise as the Swiss has previously been banned for making a gesture at fans who abused him.

The 42-year-old enraged Arsenal by dismissing Robin Van Persie as he deemed the striker’s shot after being called offside as time-wasting, with Barcelona scoring twice after the sending-off to win 4-3 on aggregate.

Both Van Persie and Wenger confronted Busacca, but the official has developed a thick skin during his 21-year refereeing career.