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WHAT HAPPENED?
Days after making headlines for his fiery remarks ahead of the match between Brazil and Argentina in March, Raphinha faced accusations of match-fixing and disrespecting the Argentina national team after a subsequent game against Bolivia. The controversy exploded following tense interactions during and after the Brazil-Argentina clash in Buenos Aires.
During the Argentina game, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez appeared to accuse Raphinha of bribing referees. In a heated exchange on the pitch, Martínez allegedly shouted at the Barcelona winger, “How much did you pay him? How much did you pay him? You fix the game.” No official evidence has emerged to support these claims, and they seem to reflect the emotional intensity of the match rather than any verified wrongdoing.
Continuing his controversial antics, Raphinha brought an Argentina fan’s provocative banner, which read, “Raphinha, f**k you,” to a post-match press conference. He remarked, “I’m going to take this banner to the locker room, since I always get very psychological. I really like to keep everything that bad people say, and after two or three years, I can see [it]. I’m going to take this banner with me to Curitiba (for next month’s match).”
WHAT RAPINHA SAID
Raphinha defended his actions and comments on social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “First they say that I saddened South America and now that I have disrespected a country. My blood boils wearing my country’s shirt! I want to win every game, especially playing against Argentina. If they don’t want us to play like that against Argentina, do you want us to play as if we were on a beach or Futsal?”
In a follow-up response to his post, he added, “I’m not—I have nothing against Argentina, but when I wear the Brazilian shirt, I’m moody.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Raphinha’s relationship with Argentina’s players and fans has become increasingly strained since his pre-match comments ahead of the March Brazil-Argentina clash. In an interview with Romário TV prior to the game, he boldly declared that Brazil would beat Argentina “on and off the pitch,” a statement that drew sharp criticism from Argentine players and fans. The fallout escalated when he responded defiantly during and after Brazil’s 4-1 defeat to Argentina, which further fueled tensions.
When asked about apologizing for his previous remarks, Raphinha recently stated, “If the day I say sorry is because that’s going to be right…it’ll be difficult. There needs to be an action for me to apologise.”
WHAT NEXT FOR RAPHINHA?
Despite his provocative behavior, Brazil’s head coach Marcelo Bielsa has expressed support for Raphinha, emphasizing the player’s passion and dedication. Bielsa commented, “Raphinha is a very strong player with great character, very determined, very brave. His performances are remarkable, and his behaviour is very good. But he’s a human being. Football is a game of great emotions, and in those emotional games, in the heat of the circumstances, there are inevitable situations that don’t respond to the line he usually has.”
