The defender of FC Barcelona, Pau Cubarsí, used social media to apologize to the fans after his sending-off, which changed the game in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Atlético Madrid, which ended 0–2.
The turning point came in the 41st minute when Cubarsí brought down Giuliano Simeone near the edge of the box, denying him a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
After an initial yellow card, referee István Kovács upgraded the punishment to a direct red card following a VAR review.
Writing on Instagram, the young centre-back expressed his regret over the incident and apologized to the fans.
“A single action can determine the outcome of a match and a tie. This is football, and I take full responsibility for the result,” Cubarsí stated.
Despite the loss and the two-goal disadvantage ahead of the second leg, the defender remained defiant about his team’s spirit.
“There is still a long way to go. We are more united than ever. We are a family and we have always shown that. We move forward with persistence and determination. We will never give up,” the Spaniard concluded.
Barcelona will need to overturn the 2–0 result without Cubarsí, who will be suspended for the return leg in Madrid on April 14.
