Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has publicly apologized for his actions during the dramatic 3-2 extra-time loss to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday at La Cartuja Stadium. The German center-back was sent off in the 120th minute after throwing an ice pack toward referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, sparking controversy in the final moments of the heated El Clasico showdown.
The incident occurred shortly after Barcelona’s Jules Kounde scored a stunning 22-yard strike in the 116th minute to secure a 3-2 lead. Tensions boiled over when De Burgos Bengoetxea called a foul on Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe for a challenge on Barcelona’s Eric Garcia, denying Los Blancos a final chance to equalize. Rudiger, who had been substituted in the 111th minute due to physical discomfort, reacted furiously from the bench, throwing an ice pack in the referee’s direction and displaying an aggressive attitude. He had to be restrained by teammates, including Jesus Vallejo and Ferland Mendy, as well as coaching staff to prevent further confrontation.
In his official statement posted on social media, Rudiger expressed remorse, stating, “There’s definitely no excuse for my behaviour last night. I’m very sorry for that. We played a very good game from the second half on. After 111 minutes, I was not able to help my team anymore and before the final whistle I did a mistake. Sorry again to the referee and to everyone I have disappointed last night.”
The referee’s report detailed Rudiger’s actions, noting that he was dismissed for “throwing an object from the technical area, which missed me” and that he “had to be restrained by various members of the coaching staff, showing an aggressive attitude.” Alongside Rudiger, teammates Jude Bellingham and Lucas Vazquez were also shown red cards for their protests, with Vazquez entering the field to contest the decision and Bellingham later approaching the officials aggressively.
Rudiger now faces a potential lengthy suspension under the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) disciplinary code. According to Article 101, which covers “mild violence” toward referees, he could be banned for four to twelve matches. However, if his actions are classified as an “assault against referees” under Article 104, the suspension could range from three to six months, or even six months to a year if deemed to pose a “serious risk.” Such a ban could extend into La Liga, potentially sidelining Rudiger for a significant portion of the 2024-25 season.
The match itself was a thrilling affair, with Barcelona claiming their record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title. Pedri opened the scoring in the 28th minute, but Real Madrid fought back with second-half goals from Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni. Ferran Torres equalized in the 84th minute, and Kounde’s extra-time screamer sealed the victory for Hansi Flick’s side.
The fallout from the final was exacerbated by pre-match tensions. Real Madrid had boycotted their pre-match news conference, training, and official photocall, protesting what they called “hostility and animosity” from De Burgos Bengoetxea and VAR official Pablo González Fuertes. The club’s actions stemmed from comments made by the officials in response to critical videos aired on Real Madrid TV.
Rudiger’s apology has been met with mixed reactions. Some fans and pundits praised his accountability, while others emphasized the severity of his actions, with former Premier Sports commentator Terry Gibson noting, “You can see something is thrown – [Rudiger] is in big trouble, it doesn’t miss the referee by a million miles.”