‘Screams heard in tunnel’ after Benfica vs Barcelona clash with police forced to intervene in scuffle involving Raphinha
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POLICE were forced to intervene after a mass brawl reportedly erupted between Barcelona and Benfica players. The Catalan giants staged an incredible comeback from 4-2 down to win 5-4 in the Champions League last night. Barca's win was not without huge controversy as Benfica were adamant they should have had a penalty in 96th minute.
![[Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates a victory.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/raphinha-fc-barcelona-celebrates-victory-965687344.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
But the referee did not give it and Raphinha immediately went up the other end to score a last-gasp winner. Emotions ran high at full-time and tempers supposedly boiled over in the tunnel. There was reportedly a brawl between Barcelona and Benfica players and "screams" were heard.
![[FC Barcelona players celebrating a goal in the rain.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/raphael-dias-raphinha-fc-barcelona-965631324.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Police allegedly had to intervene, escorting Raphinha away and guarding the doors to both teams' dressing rooms. Asked about the incident by Movistar, the ex-Leeds star said: "I'm a person who respects everyone, but when I was leaving the pitch there were people who insulted me.
![[Soccer game in progress.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/image_40ece3.png?strip=all&w=669)
"I returned the insults. I know I shouldn't do it, but I returned the insults. In the end we all got heated. "They could have understood the situation, but they preferred to insult me. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS. "I'm a person who doesn't take anything home, what they say to me, they're going to hear it too.
![[Soccer players on a field near the goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/image_82a842.png?strip=all&w=669)
"It was something that happened, we were all heated, but it's normal in football after the end of a match like this.". In the crazy game, three penalties were given, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny wiped out his own team-mate as Benfica's Vangelis Pavlidis netted a hat-trick and Barca star Ronald Araujo scored an own goal.
