Because of the tribute on the shirt: the fine received by Rafinha

Rafinha scored a goal from the penalty spot in Barcelona’s 0:2 win over Real Sociedad last night, and immediately took off his shirt and underneath was another shirt with a tribute to the victims of the recent floods in Brazil. Referee Cuadra Fernandez pulled out the yellow card for him.

The referee’s report states that Rafinha took off his shirt and another shirt was revealed with the message “pray for RS”, along with the flag of Rio Grande do Sul. In addition to the fact that the yellow card was not revoked, the Spanish federation fined him for sending a message, which is against the law in Spain.

The amount of the fine in such cases can be up to 3,000 euros, and in the case of Rafinha, Spain chose to fine him 601 euros and Barcelona around 350 euros, the minimum penalty in these cases. A similar thing also happened to Leo Messi in November 2020, when during a match against Ossuna he dedicated a goal to Diego Maradona.

Leo Messi dedicates the goal to Maradona (La Liga)

At the time the flea scored, he took off his shirt and underneath was a shirt of Newell’s Old Boys with the number 10. The referee at the time, Matteo Laus, pulled out a yellow card for the Argentine and even then the flea was fined 601 euros and Barca another 350. When the group tried to appeal at the time – it was rejected.

Leo Messi dedicates the goal to Maradona (Reuters)