The Ion Oblemenco Stadium witnessed high tensions during the latter half of the first period in the Universitatea Craiova vs. CFR Cluj derby. At a 1-0 deficit, Craiova captain
Nicușor Bancu was booked by referee Marcel Bîrsan, sparking a dramatic outburst.The incident occurred in the 40th minute when Craiova was preparing to take a free kick.
Bancu fouled Alin Fică while play was stopped, prompting the fourth official, Iulian Călin, to alert Bîrsan, who issued the yellow card. Enraged, Bancu confronted teammate Dima and
even lashed out at a staff member who advised him to calm down, shouting, “Leave me alone!” This caution marks Bancu’s third yellow card of the SuperLiga season, leaving the
32-year-old left-back on the brink of suspension. Should he receive another booking, Bancu will face a one-match ban, further complicating Craiova’s campaign.
The referee’s strictness was evident, with three cards distributed in the first half—two to Craiova (Screciu and Bancu) and one to CFR Cluj (Simao Rocha). Rocha’s booking was his
fourth of the season, ruling him out of CFR’s upcoming Romanian Cup fixture against Ceahlăul on December 5.