Antonio Rudiger has been slapped with a six-match suspension after throwing an object at the referee during Real Madrid’s stormy Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona.
The German defender, 32, was one of two Real players sent off late in Seville after reacting furiously to a foul call on Kylian Mbappe. Alongside Lucas Vazquez, Rudiger was shown a straight red card from the sidelines, but his offence went further.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea’s match report confirmed Rudiger “threw an object from the technical area, which missed me”.
That act has seen him charged under article 101 of the Spanish Federation’s code, which deals with “mild violence” towards referees.
While the sanction could have ranged up to 12 matches, Rudiger received the minimum six, all of which will be served in La Liga, starting immediately and running into the 2025-26 opener.
Ironically, the punishment may have minimal short-term effect. Rudiger underwent knee surgery on Tuesday and is likely out for the season, with a six-to-eight-week recovery forecasted. His status for the Club World Cup in June now hangs in the balance.
Real Madrid did cite the defender’s public apology as mitigating evidence in hopes of a reduced ban, but it was not enough. “There’s definitely no excuse,” Rudiger admitted post-match.
Lucas Vazquez has been given a two-match suspension, both to be served in next season’s Copa del Rey.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham’s red card for dissent after the final whistle has been overturned.
Though the referee claimed Bellingham “approached in an aggressive attitude”, video evidence presented by Real Madrid cleared the English midfielder of wrongdoing.
The final’s fallout continues to hit Real hard, with the club also confirming two more injury blows, Ferland Mendy has suffered a hamstring issue, and David Alaba has ruptured the meniscus in his left knee.
