Raphinha faces the risk of being banned by UEFA.

Raphinha faces the risk of being suspended by UEFA following controversial remarks and provocative actions towards Atletico Madrid fans, despite apologizing after the tense match.

Barcelona's elimination by Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals UEFA Champions League has left many negative repercussions. Among them, forward Raphinha is now at risk of receiving a penalty from UEFA after making controversial statements about the match.

According to Diario AS, European football's governing body has begun reviewing the Brazilian star's statement, in which he claimed "the match was a robbery." If found guilty, Raphinha could face a suspension in European competitions, and this penalty is likely to be applied in his next appearance in the Champions League, that is, the 2026/27 season.

In the past, UEFA has precedents for similar penalties. In the 2018/19 season, Neymar was suspended after publicly criticizing the refereeing following Paris Saint-Germain's loss to Manchester United. At that time, the Brazilian star angrily wrote on social media: “It's a disgrace. They let four people who don't understand football analyze a situation.” The initial penalty was three matches, before being reduced to two by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Provocative action draws attention to Raphinha

Although unable to play in the matches against Atletico Madrid due to injury, Raphinha still became a focal point after the game. Besides remarks targeting the referee, the player also made gestures towards the stands at the Metropolitano stadium.

Cameras captured the moment Raphinha signaled that Atletico Madrid would be eliminated in the next round of the Champions League. This behavior could be subject to disciplinary review by UEFA, as there have been many previous cases of players being penalized for provocative gestures or offensive remarks towards opposing fans.

Raphinha issues an apology

Just hours after the match concluded, Raphinha posted an apology message on his personal Instagram page, acknowledging his uncontrolled behavior.

“I apologize for my actions, which do not reflect my values or who I am. It was a reaction in a moment of tension, when I was subjected to disrespectful words from a fan,” the Barcelona star wrote.

UEFA is still reviewing the case, and the final decision regarding Raphinha's penalty is expected to be announced soon.