Barcelona star Raphinha has apologized for the gesture he made towards Atletico Madrid fans after the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
The Brazilian was seen gesturing towards the stands at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium, implying that Atletico would be eliminated in the semi-finals after Barca’s 3-2 aggregate defeat to Los Rojiblancos.
In a statement on Wednesday, Raphinha emphasized that his actions did not reflect his character or values, but were simply a reaction to the abuse he suffered at Atletico Madrid’s home ground.
The Brazilian international continued, “I apologize for my behavior, which is not in line with my values or personality. It was a reaction born of a moment of frustration, a response to a fan who was insulting me.”
However, Barcelona’s second captain still faces the risk of suspension in the Champions League, especially since he has not apologized for his post-match comments about the refereeing, in which he claimed that Barcelona had been “robbed.”
Disciplinary precedents suggest that Raphinha could face a three-match ban from UEFA, either for his actions towards the Atlético fans (despite his apology) or for his comments criticizing the refereeing.
It’s worth noting that Raphinha has been injured since the last international break, and his appearance at the Wanda Metropolitano was solely to support the Barcelona players in their hopes of a comeback. The 29-year-old is expected to return to action in early May.
