On March 17, 2025, the highly anticipated derby between FCSB and Rapid, held at the Arena Națională, ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw and witnessed intense confrontations both on and off the pitch. With nearly 30,000 spectators present, the match generated plenty of excitement, but it was not without controversy.
Central to discussions after the match was the contentious moment in the 33rd minute when Elvir Koljic fell inside FCSB’s penalty area following a challenge from goalkeeper Ștefan Târnovanu. The incident prompted calls for a penalty, but referee Horațiu Feșnic decided against it, instead showing Koljic a yellow card for simulation. According to former referee Marius Avram, Feșnic made the right call, asserting, "Koljic tried to obtain the penalty. From what is visible, Koljic did take the ball, and Târnovanu came sliding without touching it, but Koljic intentionally left his foot behind to earn the penalty. This is the definition of simulation. The on-field decision was correct."
FCSB team owner, Gigi Becali, expressed satisfaction with the result, citing fatigue as the main factor for the team's performance. "The players were extremely tired after 20 matches played in European competitions this season," he said, referring to their exit from the Europa League, where they were eliminated by Lyon. Becali highlighted players Florin Tănase, Juri Cisotti, and Daniel Bîrligea as standouts, indicating they were pivotal to scoring against Rapid. He explained, "If we didn't have Tănase, Cisotti, and Bîrligea, we would have been overwhelmed. When your players are spent, you make bad decisions!"
Tensions escalated after the match when Rapid coach Marius Șumudică criticized the behavior of FCSB's Sorin Pitu, the club's general secretary, accusing him of insulting his players throughout the game. During the post-match press conference, Șumudică stated, "There is one gentleman I know well who is part of FCSB's staff. I have footage showing he was standing behind our goal and constantly insulting my players. This man is named Pitu. He even had the audacity to come and apologize afterwards for his behavior, claiming it’s part of rivalry. He should be ashamed."
Pitu reportedly defended himself by admitting to shouting during the game but downplayed the severity of his remarks. "I did shout some colorful comments, but it was not very serious," he noted. He also acknowledged interactions with Rapid players, including alleged offensive remarks made by one of them. This incident raises broader questions about sportsmanship and the responsibility of club officials to model acceptable behavior.
Following the match, the Gendarmerie of Bucharest announced penalties totaling 24,400 lei due to various infractions, including fines against the event organizers and security for failing to meet their obligations. Notably, they imposed three additional sanctions preventing individuals from attending sports competitions for one year. This raises alarms about fan conduct, particularly when racially charged chants prompted action previously reported by various officials.
While discussing these developments, Mihai Stoica, another key figure at FCSB, remarked on the fatigue visible among players, attributing it directly to the intense schedule of European competitions. Stoica stated, "When you’re tired, you make wrong decisions. The risk of injury is enormous, and it's evident from the mistakes we’ve made on the pitch." He emphasized the impact of this fatigue on their performance during the derby against Rapid.
The events of the derby underscored the passion and stakes of Romanian football, with accusations of poor conduct from club officials and the pressing issue of player wellness coming to the fore. The backlash against incidents of unethical behavior, such as racist chants and insults from staff, presents challenges for clubs going forward, as stakeholders must navigate maintaining competitive integrity and morale.
Overall, the FCSB-Rapid derby illustrated the fiery rivalry between the two teams, coupled with significant operational challenges both on the pitch and off. The discourse surrounding the match highlights the necessity for clubs to enforce standards of conduct among players and staff to uphold the sport's integrity and the values of sportsmanship.
