Boavista face a heavy fine from UEFA after their supporters subjected Liverpool's striker Emile Heskey to racist taunts during Wednesday's Champions League game in Oporto.
Heskey (23), endured the abuse from the home fans whenever he touched the ball during the 1-1 draw at the Estadio do Bessa in Oporto. And he was subsequently granted little sympathy from the Boavista players, one of whom, the black Brazilian goalscorer Silva, shrugged off the chants as "normal". The Swedish UEFA observer is unlikely to concur, with a fine rather than a docking of points the likely outcome.
"We will leave it to the UEFA official," confirmed Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry, who will appeal to UEFA only if the abuse is not mentioned in the observer's report."
UEFA's director of communications Mike Lee said: "We cannot look into it until we receive our official's report, or that of either club. But previously we have had a range of penalties for such things, normally fines. If there's a case against Boavista we will take action."
"The abuse was normal and designed to unsettle Liverpool," said Silva, one of 10 black players in Boavista's first-team squad. "A professional player should just get on with it, focus and forget that there are supporters around."
Heskey has been subjected to similar racist vitriol in previous games. While earning his 16th cap for the England Under-21s he was abused at a game in Yugoslavia last year, and there was a similar reaction during England's 3-1 win in Albania and Liverpool's UEFA Cup tie at Slovan Liberec last season.
"When you travel abroad playing for either club or country you often have to put up with this sort of thing. I certainly won't let it affect me, but I was aware of it and I just put it down to ignorance," said Heskey.
Nigel Spackman yesterday became the 19th manager to lose his job this season in England. Barnsley terminated Spackman's contract, opening the way for Chesterfield's Nicky Law to take charge at Oakwell. Stuart Gray, sacked by Southampton on Sunday, is also a candidate.
John Dennis, the Barnsley chairman, described recent results, no wins in their eight games, as "unacceptable". Spackman, however, pointed to the fact he has had only limited funds since replacing Dave Bassett in January.
Andy Todd was transfer-listed yesterday following his training ground fight with Charlton team-mate and Republic of Ireland international Dean Kiely on Tuesday, which left the goalkeeper with a black eye.
Todd arrived at The Valley in controversial circumstances two years ago after a raining ground punch-up with Phil Brown, who had been Todd's father Colin's assistant at Bolton.
