Marian Aioani challenges an arbitration decision from Rapid

Ashley Davis01/02/2026

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Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Saturday, January 31, 2026 22:26 / Updated Saturday, January 31, 2026 22:33

Marian Aioani (26 years old), the goalkeeper from Rapid, came extremely disappointed to the interview at the end of the match lost by his team, at home, against those from U Cluj, score 0-2, and especially angry for the penalty dictated against Giulești.

At the score of 1-0 for U Cluj, in the 83rd minute of the meeting, Marian Aioani came out to meet Mendy, the scorer of the first goal, and the “central” Florin Andrei immediately dictated the penalty. There was contact, but the goalkeeper claims that it was initiated by the opponent, after he had already thrown himself in anticipation of a shot from 11 meters.

Penalty dictated for Aioani's foul in Rapid - U Cluj / PHOTO: Capture @Prima Sport 1

Marian Aioani, unhappy because a penalty was given for the contact he had with Mendy

“We didn't have a successful second half. In the first we tried, we built, we had a few chances, but in the second we lacked verticalizing the game.

There's no point in watching the penalty shootout. What was seen, how he jumps into the pool… I don't understand how the referees don't see this. It was also seen during the match that I tried to protect myself.

I can't understand how they gave something like that. I wasn't sliding, I wanted to block it. The ball was close to me, I stopped, I dodged, and he jumped over me.

I felt contact, but I don't think it was appropriate to give such a penalty. It doesn't make sense… The ref didn't want to see the phase, but that's not why we lost tonight.

In the second half we didn't give them any problems, we didn't manage to get vertical. If we draw a line, it's for nothing. I try not to concede a goal, that's my goal, to help the team win.

It wasn't possible today, that's it. We have 6 more matches until the play-off starts. We are going to Sibiu to win. We try to do our job, to win. Tonight I took a beating. We had a 0-0 penalty at their home, but it wasn't given to us…”, said Marian Aioani, after the match, in a flash interview on “Digi Sport Special”.