‘It’s a scandal’ – Frenkie de Jong blasts decision to rule out Pau Cubarsi’s goal for Barcelona

Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong has launched a scathing attack on match officials after Pau Cubarsi’s second-half strike against Atlético was disallowed, labelling the verdict “a scandal.”

The 17-year-old defender thought he had doubled the hosts’ advantage to 4-1 when he fired home early after the restart, only for the goal to be chalked off following an eight-minute VAR review. De Jong, incensed by the outcome, insists the replays vindicate his team-mate.

“I saw the image afterward and you can clearly see that there was no offside,” the Dutch midfielder told reporters. “In the image shown on television regarding the offside, you can’t see the contact with the ball, and then you see the image where Fermín shoots and the defender is a meter behind Robert. I think it’s very strange.”

De Jong directed his frustration at the video officials rather than on-field referee Martínez Munuera, arguing that the technology failed to provide the match official with conclusive evidence. “He can’t do much, because he’s also waiting. He doesn’t have the image or the video. But VAR does. The image I saw, if it’s not AI, which you don’t realize anymore... If this is the photo, it’s a scandal because it’s very clear.”

Barcelona’s ire was compounded by what they perceived as leniency toward Atlético substitute Giuliano Simeone, who escaped a red card despite two heavy fouls on Alejandro Balde. The Argentine’s conduct on the touchline further fuelled the hosts’ sense of injustice as the Camp Nou faithful left debating the impact of another contentious VAR intervention.