Thierry Henry (foto: Posnetek zaslona)
Thierry Henry criticized the red card shown to Pau Cubarsí against Atletico, arguing the referee made a rushed decision that changed the course of the Champions League match.
The debate over Pau Cubarsí’s red card in Barcelona’s 0-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid continues to grow, with Thierry Henry now stepping into the discussion.
The former Barcelona forward openly questioned the referee’s decision, adding weight to the controversy that has already drawn comments from Hansi Flick.
The incident occurred just before half-time and proved decisive.
After Cubarsí was sent off, Barcelona were reduced to ten men, allowing Atletico to take control of key moments and ultimately secure a crucial away victory.
However, not everyone agrees with the decision.
Speaking on CBS Sports, Henry made his position clear from the start.
"No, no, no... for me, that's not a red card. I'm sorry. I understand the rule. Last man, denying a goal-scoring opportunity, but you have to look at the situation."
He focused on the details of the action involving Giuliano Simeone, questioning whether it truly met the criteria for a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
"The ball isn't completely under control, the angle isn't perfect and there's still some distance to the goal."
"Are we sure he's going to score? I'm not convinced."
Henry emphasized that his argument was not against the rule itself, but against how it was interpreted in this specific moment.
While acknowledging that Cubarsí was technically the last defender, he argued that the situation required a more careful assessment.
He also highlighted the wider impact of such decisions.
"For me, it's a yellow card, not a red. Because as soon as you send him off, you change the whole game."
"And in the Champions League, you have to be 100% sure. I think the referee was too quick on that one."
The incident remains one of the key talking points from the match, with strong opinions continuing to emerge as the tie moves toward the second leg.