Barcelona’s 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España was a night of triumph in Jeddah, but the post-match celebrations have been marred by a moment of madness. While Hansi Flick’s squad celebrated their second consecutive Super Cup title, cameras caught one of the club’s key defenders in a compromising position that has now alerted the authorities.
The player at the centre of the storm is Pau Cubarsi. The 18-year-old centre-back, who was instrumental in keeping Los Blancos at bay for much of the game, was seen performing an “obscene gesture” towards the stands. The move, described as a “bras d’honneur” (arm of honour), is a well-known insult that has previously landed players in significant trouble with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The match was an El Clasico for the ages. Barcelona raced into a lead through Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, but Madrid refused to go away, with Vinicius Jr and Gonzalo Garcia both finding the net. The tension reached a boiling point in the final minutes when Frenkie de Jong was sent off for a heavy challenge on Kylian Mbappe.
It appears that the high-octane atmosphere got the better of Cubarsi. According to MARCA, the RFEF is now reviewing video footage of the teenager’s post-match antics. If they deem the gesture to be a deliberate provocation of the crowd, the defender could be facing a suspension that would rule him out of Barcelona’s upcoming La Liga fixtures.
This isn’t the first time the “arm of honour” has caused a stir in Spanish football. In 2019, Gareth Bale was investigated for a similar gesture during a Madrid derby, though he ultimately escaped a ban. However, with the RFEF under pressure to improve player conduct, Cubarsi may not be as fortunate.
For Hansi Flick, the prospect of losing his teenage sensation just as the title race heats up is a major concern. Cubarsi has become a mainstay in the Barca backline, and any period on the sidelines would be a massive boost for Real Madrid as they look to close the gap at the top of the table.