Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has publicly apologized after receiving a red card during the Champions League quarterfinal match against Atletico Madrid.
Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth were able to give the visitors a comfortable first-leg advantage after the teenager was dismissed.
The all-Spanish match’s tone drastically changed in the 43rd minute at the Camp Nou.
A series of incidents that defined the evening began when Cubarsi pulled down Giuliano Simeone close to the edge of the penalty area during a smart Atletico counterattack.
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At first, referee Istvan Kovacs brandished a yellow card, but the VAR asked him to check the pitchside monitor.
Following a thorough examination, the official upgraded Cubarsi’s yellow to a straight red after determining that he was the final man leaving Hansi Flick’s side a man down just before the interval.
Cubarsi Apologises
According to Goal, taking to social media after the final whistle, the Masia graduate refused to hide from his role in the defeat.
The centre-back acknowledged the gravity of the incident while calling for squad unity ahead of the return leg in Madrid.
“One action determines the match and the tie,” Cubarsi wrote on Instagram. “That’s football and I take responsibility for the result.
“There’s still a long way to go in this two-match tie, and we’re more united than ever: we’re a family and we’ve always shown it. Moving forward, with effort and determination, we’ll never give up.”
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