Let's get this straight. Atlético Madrid were not fined €150,000 (about £117,000) and handed a three-match home ban - plus a two-game ban for Javier Aguirre, their coach - for racist abuse. This is not “a small step for Uefa, a giant leap for mankind” in the global war on racism. This is simply the European governing body applying its rules after Atlético were found guilty of a variety of offences, most of which have nothing to do with racist abuse.

Uefa found that Atlético failed to arrange an adequate police escort to and from the Vicente Calderón Stadium (no racism there), that Atlético hooligans attacked the Marseilles team bus (again, no racism, just mindless violence), that there were inadequate provisions for disabled supporters (hardly racist, just ignorant and insensitive), that Aguirre repeatedly abused and insulted Mathieu Valbuena, the Marseilles midfield player (again, no racism: Valbuena is white) and that local police and stewards were “heavy-handed” in their treatment of visiting supporters. Whatever racism was involved surfaced in the final two charges: that there was inadequate security in the press area, allowing some fans racially to abuse two black journalists, and that a section of the support engaged in monkey chants.

Reprehensible? Absolutely. But let's not kid ourselves. Had the last two racism-related charges been the only ones filed against Atlético, there is no way that they would have received such a hefty fine, let alone the home-game ban. Indeed, Uefa's statement on its official website makes no mention of racist abuse. So let's not treat this like some kind of signal that Uefa is “sending a message” to those who engage in racist abuse, tempting as that may be.

It seems clear that the best way to stamp out racist abuse, wherever possible, is by punishing individuals rather than clubs. One solution could be mandating a special task force for each Champions League or Uefa Cup home game. You could arm specially trained stewards or observers with video cameras and, when they detect abuse, they could gather evidence, liaise with police and eject the offenders (and, if the law of the land allows it, charge them as well). This task force could be added to the basic licensing requirements - security, stadium, facilities, etc - that clubs must meet to play in European competition.

Heck, it's just a thought. Oh, and while they're at it, when a game is moved to a neutral venue, why not use the money collected in fines to compensate those supporters who had already booked their travel to the original venue? It wouldn't cost Uefa a thing and it would win it a bit of goodwill, starting with the 3,000 Liverpool fans who had made their arrangements to travel to the Spanish capital.