The second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals continues to be a hot topic, especially due to Raphinha’s controversial statements following his team’s elimination by Atlético Madrid (3-2 on aggregate).
The Barcelona star publicly and harshly criticized VAR and the referees for decisions made during the match, but now he is under review and could face a severe sanction.
The severe suspension Raphinha faces
Despite not playing due to an injury, the Brazilian player spoke after the match, calling it “stolen” due to the decisions made by referee Clément Turpin at the Metropolitano Stadium.
“It’s a stolen match. To err is human, but for it to happen again in the second leg? We played very well, but they’ve robbed us of this tie,” Raphinha began. “The refereeing was riddled with problems; the decisions he made were unbelievable. Atlético committed I don’t know how many fouls and the referee didn’t show them a single yellow card. I really want to understand his fear that Barça might qualify,” he added.
However, according to Mundo Deportivo, UEFA could impose a severe sanction on him for his statements due to “insulting conduct or conduct that otherwise violates the basic standards of decent behavior” or conduct “that brings the sport of soccer, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute,” in accordance with Article 11 of its Disciplinary Code.
This could result in Raphinha facing a three-match suspension, a penalty he would have to serve starting next season in the 2026/27 Champions League, causing him to miss the tournament’s opening matches.
There are precedents for this. One of them is Neymar, who was suspended for three matches for an Instagram post in which he criticized the referee of the 2019 PSG vs. Manchester United match, although the CAS ultimately reduced the suspension to two matches.
Added to this is the gesture he made toward Atlético Madrid fans, assuming they would eliminate the team in the next round. Following the defeat at the Metropolitano, he apologized in a DAZN interview: “I’m sorry for my gesture, which does not reflect my values or my character. It was a moment of tension in response to a fan who was disrespecting me.”
Despite this, he could also face sanctions from UEFA for gestures toward the stands, as Rüdiger, Mbappé, and Ceballos did previously.
In this context, Raphinha’s case is now in the hands of UEFA, which must determine whether his statements and gestures warrant punishment.
Meanwhile, Barcelona continues to grapple with the aftermath of a painful elimination, amid a climate of tension that could have consequences both on and off the field.
Barcelona’s next match will be against Celta de Vigo in LaLiga, scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, at Spotify Camp Nou.
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