The banner that embarrassed all Barça fans in Catalan derby

"RCD Espanyol, first Chinese business without a happy ending." This message appeared on a banner during Barcelona's game against Espanyol on Sunday. Not only did it provoke shame among the majority of Barcelona socios and fans, but it could have further consquences for the club. 

And we speak of consequences because in a derby which had few problems on the pitch -- Espanyol coach Quique Sanchez Flores ended the game praising Messi, for example -- there were offensive messages directed at Espanyol's players and fans from a section of the Camp Nou crowd. 

Nothing new, given it's a derby, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be criticised. Barça and their players were disgusted at the lack of respect and the insults directed at Gerard Pique and Shakira last season. That, too, was done in the form of banners at Cornella-El Prat. As well as the shame, Espanyol were fined. Unfortunately, a few Barcelona fans decided to respond on Sunday. 

The above banner was not the only one. There was another reading the "The Pride of Barcelona" and there were the following chants: "I hate Espanyol", "Bastard Pericos", "Fuck Espanyol" and "Perico, remember, you're shit". 

In the referee Mateu Lahoz's report there is no mention of the chants, nor of the banners, so it remains to be seen if the Anti-Violence Commission will decide to act and hand Barcelona a punishment for events at Camp Nou on Sunday.