The controversy surrounding Pau Cubarsi’s red card in Barcelona’s 0-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid continues to gather momentum, and now one of football’s most respected voices has stepped in.
Former Barcelona forward Thierry Henry has openly criticised the decision, adding weight to the growing debate around the officiating in the Champions League quarter-final clash, something that even Hansi Flick spoke about.
The incident, which occurred just before half-time, proved to be a defining moment in the match.
With Barcelona reduced to ten men, the balance of the game shifted dramatically, allowing Atletico Madrid to take control of key moments. However, not everyone agrees that the decision was justified.
Henry’s verdict
Speaking during his appearance on CBS Sports (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Henry made his position clear from the outset, expressing disbelief at the referee’s call.
“No, no, no… for me, that’s not a red card. I’m sorry. I understand the rule. Last man, denying a goal-scoring opportunity, but you have to look at the situation.
“The ball isn’t completely under control, the angle isn’t perfect and there’s still some distance to the goal.
Henry did not agree with the referee’s decision. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
“Are we sure he’s going to score? I’m not convinced,” he argued.
More to the story
Henry’s argument focuses on the interpretation of the rule rather than the rule itself.
While acknowledging that Cubarsi was technically the last defender, he questioned whether the situation truly met the threshold for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, which is a key factor in such decisions.
He then went a step further, highlighting the impact that such calls can have on matches of this magnitude.
In his view, the referee acted too quickly without fully considering the context of the play.
“For me, it’s a yellow card, not a red. Because as soon as you send him off, you change the whole game.
“And in the Champions League, you have to be 100% sure. I think the referee was too quick on that one,” he concluded.
