Barcelona winger Raphinha has found himself at the center of controversy following Saturday evening’s tense Catalan derby against Girona, after being accused of directing an explicit insult toward referee Jesús Gil Manzano in the aftermath of the game.
The incident reportedly occurred during Barcelona’s hard-fought 2-1 La Liga victory over Girona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, a match that carried high emotional stakes for both sides.
After a difficult run of results, the win marked a much-needed return to form for Hansi Flick’s men — but it didn’t come without its share of drama and heated exchanges.
Barcelona’s performance was far from straightforward. The team struggled for rhythm throughout much of the encounter, and despite dominating possession, they found themselves frustrated by Girona’s disciplined defense and quick counterattacks.
The match reached boiling point when Girona equalized, leaving Barça desperate for a late breakthrough.
In a bold tactical move, Hansi Flick decided to push Ronald Araújo, usually a central defender, into a makeshift striker role for the closing stages of the game.
The decision paid off spectacularly when Araújo scored a stoppage-time winner, sparking wild celebrations both on the pitch and on the sidelines. The late goal secured a crucial 2-1 win for Barcelona and eased some of the growing pressure surrounding Flick.
However, those celebrations were overshadowed by a series of tense confrontations involving the match officials. Earlier in the second half, Flick himself had been shown a red card, after what appeared to be a furious outburst directed at the referee over a decision he strongly disagreed with.
The German manager’s visible anger reflected the frustration felt across the team, which may have spilled over even further once the final whistle blew.
According to footage circulating online, Raphinha was caught on camera appearing to shout “hijo de puta”, a Spanish phrase that translates roughly to “son of a bitch” or “motherf**ker,” seemingly directed at referee Jesús Gil Manzano. Lip readers and social media users quickly picked up on the moment, leading to widespread discussion and criticism from fans and pundits alike.
If confirmed, the incident could lead to disciplinary action against the Brazilian winger, as La Liga has strict regulations regarding verbal abuse towards match officials.
For now, neither Barcelona nor Raphinha have publicly commented on the matter, but the controversy adds yet another layer of tension to what was already a fiery night at Montjuïc.
Despite the win, Barcelona’s post-match narrative has been dominated not by the three points, but by questions over player conduct, referee treatment, and disciplinary standards within Spanish football.
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