Cristi Săpunaru and Robert Niță clash publicly after Rapid’s derby loss to FCSB

Rapid lost 4-1 to FCSB in round 13 of the Superliga, a result that triggered a public conflict involving former team captain Cristi Săpunaru. The defeat sparked a debate over tactical approach and player conduct that escalated into personal attacks on television and social media.

The disagreement began with Săpunaru’s criticism of head coach Daniel Pancu. Săpunaru objected to Pancu’s pre-match instructions, which advised players to avoid dangerous tackles and potential eliminations during the derby.

Robert Niță, a club official, defended Pancu against these criticisms. Niță stated that the coach made no errors in his declarations regarding player conduct and supported the message delivered before the match against FCSB.

The dispute moved to a Digi Sport broadcast where tensions rose significantly. During the show Fotbal Club, Săpunaru stated he would reveal information about Niță if challenged. The exchange included vulgar remarks from Săpunaru, prompting intervention from fellow panelist Radu Naum.

Naum addressed Săpunaru directly, telling him to be careful with his words. This intervention followed aggressive language used by the former defender during the live discussion about the team’s performance and internal matters.

Săpunaru continued the conflict on social media after the broadcast. He posted images mocking Niță, including a photo of a keychain labeled Replica. This post alluded to comments made weeks earlier by Florin Prunea, who had referred to Niță as a keychain.

Another image shared by Săpunaru showed Niță hugging Dan Șucu. The photo was taken after Andrei Șucu scored in a previous 3-1 victory for Rapid over FC Argeș. Săpunaru used these posts to underscore his irony toward Niță.

Niță responded to the personal attacks by suggesting Săpunaru should obtain coaching licenses. He stated that the former captain should implement his philosophy at a team that hires him, rather than criticizing from the sidelines.

Despite the heated exchange, Niță acknowledged Săpunaru’s status within the club. He stated that he still considers the former defender an important player in Rapid’s history, even as their public disagreement continued.

Niță also commented on the atmosphere during the derby, claiming that 8,000 Rapid supporters attended the match against FCSB. The heavy defeat and subsequent fallout have dominated local sports coverage in the days following the game.