Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger has been handed a six-game suspension following his red card during the team’s 3-2 Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona, while Jude Bellingham’s dismissal has been overturned.
The heated conclusion to the extra-time thriller saw Rüdiger, Bellingham, and Lucas Vázquez all sent off as Real Madrid players reacted furiously to referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea’s decisions.
In his official report, De Burgos wrote that Rüdiger, already substituted by that point, was dismissed in the 120th minute for “throwing an object from the technical area” and having to be restrained by coaching staff while “showing an aggressive attitude.”
Vázquez, who had also been taken off earlier, received a red card for “entering the field of play” to protest the referee’s call.
Bellingham, on the other hand, was shown a red after the final whistle for “approaching our position with an aggressive attitude, having to be held back by teammates.”
After reviewing the incidents, the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee on Tuesday imposed a six-game ban on Rüdiger and suspended Vázquez for two games.
“There’s definitely no excuse for my behaviour,” Rüdiger wrote on social media Sunday. “I’m very sorry for that … 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.”
Rüdiger has since undergone knee surgery, and it has been confirmed he could be sidelined for up to two months, ruling him out of the remaining LaLiga fixtures and putting his availability for the upcoming Club World Cup in question.
Meanwhile, Bellingham’s red card was rescinded after the committee concluded that video footage contradicted the referee’s account.
They found no evidence of aggressive behaviour or of teammates restraining the England international, calling it a “material, manifest error.”
Real Madrid had hoped Rüdiger’s remorse would reduce his punishment, but the committee dismissed this, stating that his social media apology did not constitute sufficient evidence of spontaneous regret.
The Copa del Rey final came amid high tension for Madrid, who had recently been knocked out of the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage and were trailing Barcelona in the league.
The match was further charged by the club’s boycott of pre-match media duties, including the official photo shoot, in protest of remarks made by referee De Burgos and VAR official Pablo González Fuertes earlier that day.
Madrid accused both officials of showing “hostility and animosity” towards the club when addressing footage aired on Real Madrid TV criticizing officiating.
