Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Friday, February 13, 2026, 7:17 p.m. / Updated Friday, February 13, 2026, 7:17 p.m.
The head of the CCA, Kyros Vassaras, delegated Marian Barbu to the game University of Craiova – FCSBsince Sunday, it's a good thing that the honorary president of Olteni, Sorin Cârțu, had suggested on Wednesday that the Fagara player could be sent “with dedication” because “he is the friend” of the red-blues.
No further than Wednesday, the Disciplinary Commission gave Ștefan Baiaram a two-stage suspension, after, offended, apparently, the Oltean had spat at a Dynamo fan. The University of Craiova was thus deprived of one of its best players in the duels with FCSB, the first in the Romanian Cup, contested in the meantime and ending 2-2, the following Sunday, in the championship.
Sorin Cârțu interpreted the Commission's decision as a helping hand extended to the Romanian champion, who, eliminated from the Cup on Thursday, is now trembling for the presence in the championship play-off. More seriously, the honorary president of the University then suggested that, at one of the matches, Vassaras could delegate Marian Barbu, considered by him to be a referee friendly to the people of Bucharest. And so it happened!
Kyros Vassaras puts Marian Barbu under immense pressure
The head of the CCA sends him to the “shock” on Sunday, from the Superliga, even to the “central” from Făgăraș! The truth is that the Greek official has made controversial choices before, it wouldn't be the first time. But now it seems like too much. Not only is it grist for “Sorinaccio”, but it puts Barbu in an extremely difficult situation, under immense pressure.
Marian Barbu
Add to all this as a “condiment” the fact that Gigi Becali has praised the referee from Fagaras in the past, and you have all the prerequisites for a possible “lynching” of him on “Ion Oblemenco”. It is not difficult to imagine that at any decision of his that they will not like, the Oltenians in the field and those in the stands will “explode”.
FCSB have a win, a draw and a failure with Marian Barbu at center in 2025 – 2026
Vassaras' choice to expose him in a game with a huge load just to prove something to an official who hints at some behind-the-scenes games could compromise Barbu if he errs in FCSB's favor. Even without permission!
Practically, the only asset of the “central” from Făgăraş is that this season he refereed the Romanian champion three times and each time he did it well. With him in the center, the red-blues won the Romanian Supercup, 2-1 with CFR, and in the championship they drew 0-0 with Dinamo and lost by score, 1-4, in front of CFR. But do you think that “Oblemenco” will be taken into account?
