From Schuster to Cubarsí: The Rude Gestures That Define El Clásico's Fiery History
Barcelona's young star Pau Cubarsí joins a long line of players who've lost their cool in Spanish football's greatest rivalry with some choice hand gestures.
When tempers flare in Spanish football’s ultimate rivalry, the middle finger often follows.
Cubarsí Joins El Clásico’s Naughty List
Young Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí celebrated his side’s Supercopa victory with several arm gestures that would make your nan blush. The academy graduate has now written his name into the long and colourful history of players who’ve lost their composure in the heat of Spain’s greatest football battle.
Schuster’s German Rivalry Goes Spanish
The 1983 Copa del Rey final at La Romareda was absolutely mental from start to finish. Barcelona, with Maradona and Schuster in their ranks, were the favourites against Real Madrid. With the scores level at 1-1, Marcos Alonso headed home a last-minute winner from Julio Alberto’s cross.
In the celebrations that followed, Bernd Schuster delivered two explicit arm gestures toward Madrid players. The real target? His German compatriot Uli Stielike. Their rivalry wasn’t nasty, but it was proper intense - two Germans representing opposite sides of Spain’s fiercest divide.
Schuster later admitted the gesture was specifically for Stielike, cheekily adding that after Marcos scored the winner, he crossed paths with Uli and basically told him where to go.
Giovanni’s Triple Trouble
In November 1997, the Bernabéu hosted another powder keg of a Clásico. Barcelona won 2-3 with Brazilian Giovanni scoring and then shocking everyone by directing three consecutive arm gestures (which he called “bananas”) toward the home crowd.
Initially, Giovanni showed no remorse, claiming Madrid fans deserved it. However, when he realized the Spanish authorities take a dim view of such antics, he quickly changed his tune, insisting he didn’t understand the gesture’s meaning in Spain.
Too little, too late - the Competition Committee slapped him with a two-match ban.
Pepe’s Mestalla Meltdown
The 2011 Copa del Rey final at Mestalla saw Cristiano Ronaldo head home the winner in extra time. While CR7 celebrated, his teammate Pepe directed three rude gestures toward Barcelona supporters.
The Portuguese defender, who had previous beef with Barça, later apologized, blaming the “euphoria” of the moment for his actions.
The Heat of Battle
Cubarsí’s gestures are particularly surprising given his previously squeaky-clean image. The youngster had been the model professional, displaying remarkable composure for his age. But El Clásico has a way of bringing out the devil in even the most level-headed players - whether in Spain or Saudi Arabia.
It’s just another chapter in football’s most passionate rivalry, where diplomacy often goes out the window faster than you can say “diamond geezer”.