Rapid Bucharest internal dispute resolution

A dispute between Rapid Bucharest owner Dan Șucu and coach Daniel Pancu has been resolved following tensions regarding the playing time of 17-year-old Andrei Șucu. The conflict arose after Pancu substituted the young player at halftime during a match against Csikszereda, stating the player was not yet ready for the SuperLiga level. This led to public rebuttals from the player's mother and speculation regarding the coach's job security.

Following an emergency meeting, the owner determined that Pancu will remain with the team, concluding that the coach's comments did not make him incompatible with the club. As part of the resolution, Andrei Șucu will stay at the club but will be sent to play for CSL Ștefăneștii de Jos in Liga 2 to gain experience.

In a subsequent press conference, Pancu addressed the controversy, stating it is not a real issue within the club. He noted that he has spoken with both the player and Dan Șucu, and expressed regret for not being more sensitive, admitting his mistake was failing to fully consider the player's age. He emphasized that while he treats all players equally, he acknowledges that Andrei is still a child. Club official Victor Angelescu also dismissed rumors regarding Pancu's position, stating the matter is no longer current.

Following a 1-1 draw against Farul Constanța, Pancu reiterated that there is no ongoing conflict with the player's family. He maintained that his “only mistake was that I did not consider him a child.” Regarding team performance, Pancu criticized the squad's mental performance, noting that despite leading at halftime, the team struggled in the second half. He described this collapse as a recurring issue related to mentality and stated the team's objective is reaching the play-offs.