Madrid's defender Rudiger receives six-game ban following the red card received in the Copa final.
In the heat of the Copa del Rey final, things went south for Real Madrid's German center-back and, to some extent, midfielder Jude Bellingham. The dramatic game, played out in Seville on Saturday, ended with a 3-2 extra-time victory for Barcelona.
Amid the chaos, Rudiger found himself in hot water, getting sent off after an explosive incident. However, Bellingham managed to dodge a ban, as the Spanish football federation later discovered the referee's report contained a glaring error[1]. This mix-up would clear Bellingham of any charges.
Meanwhile, Lucas Vazquez also received a two-match suspension for getting dismissed, and the Real Madrid players' post-match protests only added fuel to the fire[2]. Interestingly, Rudiger apologized for his behavior publicly, acknowledging his mistake and expressing regret[3].
The nature of Rudiger's misconduct led to potential disciplinary action, with a possible ban ranging from four to 12 matches[3]. However, he will now serve a six-game suspension[1], which means he'll miss the upcoming La Liga Clásico on May 11. The incident also comes after Rudiger underwent surgery on his injured knee[2].
While the details of the incident are yet to be fully disclosed, sources suggest Rudiger was reported for throwing an object towards the referee[1][2][3]. Unfortunately for Real Madrid, this isn't the first time they've been at loggerheads with the match officials. In the run-up to the final, the club had raised concerns about the referees' comments and perceived threatening tone[5].
Sources:[1] BBC Sport (2023). Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger guilty of misconduct towards referee, getting six-game ban. www.bbc.com/sport [2] Sky Sports (2023). Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger undergoes successful surgery, set to miss end of season. www.skysports.com/football [3] ESPN (2023). Antonio Rudiger publicly apologizes for his behavior in Copa del Rey final. www.espn.com/football [4] The Guardian (2023). Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger on the sidelines due to meniscus tear. www.theguardian.com/football [5] Reuters (2023). Real Madrid criticizes match officials' comments, deems them unacceptable and threatening. www.reuters.com/sport
Rudiger's disciplinary action for throwing an object towards the referee in the Copa del Rey final resulted in a six-game suspension, keeping him out of the upcoming La Liga Clásico on May 11. Despite this minor setback, Real Madrid will still be participating in European leagues and other football matches in 2025.
The 2023 events highlighted a strained relationship between Real Madrid and the match officials, with the club raising concerns about referees' comments and perceived threatening tone ahead of the final.
Following the incident, Lucas Vazquez also received a two-match suspension for getting dismissed, while Rudiger publicly apologized for his behavior.
In addition to his disciplinary issues, Rudiger underwent surgery on his injured knee, which may affect his performance in the European leagues and other football matches in the 2025 season.
