UEFA Champions League / FC Barcelona 0 – 2 Atlético de Madrid: Henry weighs in on Cubarsí’s red card

Barcelona’s defeat to Atlético de Madrid (0-2) in the UEFA Champions League continues to fuel debate, particularly regarding the sending off of Pau Cubarsí. The referee’s decision had a huge impact on the course of the match and is already dividing opinion among pundits.

Respected pundit Thierry Henry was unequivocal about the incident:

"No, no, no… for me, that’s not a red card. Sorry. I understand the rule—last defender, clear goal-scoring opportunity—but you have to look at the context. The ball isn’t fully under control, the angle isn’t perfect, and there’s still distance to goal. Are we sure he’s going to score? I’m not convinced."

The former striker underlined the magnitude of such a call:

"For me, that’s a yellow card, not a red… Because as soon as you send him off, you completely change the match. And in the Champions League, you need to be 100% sure."

A strong statement that reignites the controversy surrounding the officiating.