Antonio Rudiger was withdrawn in the 111th minute of the Copa del Rey final after sustaining a knee injury.
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has been issued a six-match suspension for throwing an object at the referee during the club’s Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona.
Both Rudiger and team-mate Lucas Vazquez, who had already been substituted, received direct red cards in Seville after reacting strongly to a late foul awarded against Kylian Mbappe.
Match official Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea stated in his report that Rudiger, 32, was dismissed for “throwing an object from the technical area, which did not hit me”.
According to BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague, Rudiger threw an ice cube at the referee, external.
The official report from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), external confirmed the Germany international received a six-game ban “for minor violence towards officials”.
The RFEF also overturned the red card shown to Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham for dissent after the final whistle.
The referee’s account described Bellingham as approaching “in an aggressive manner, requiring restraint by team-mates”, but video evidence submitted by Real Madrid led to the decision being reversed.
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Under Article 101 of the RFEF disciplinary code regarding “mild violence” against match officials, Rudiger faced a suspension ranging from four to 12 matches.
All six matches of Rudiger’s suspension are to be served in domestic league competition, meaning the ban will run into the start of the next season.
He will sit out the remaining five La Liga fixtures this term, as well as the opening fixture of the 2025-26 campaign.
Rudiger’s absence is expected to have limited impact after he underwent knee surgery on Tuesday, a procedure likely to sideline him for the rest of the season.
Although Real Madrid did not specify a timeline for his recovery, Spanish media indicate a six-to-eight week absence, potentially causing him to miss the rest of the domestic season and making his participation in the Club World Cup in doubt.
Rudiger has apologised for his actions, admitting there was “definitely no excuse” for his conduct.
The RFEF noted that this apology was taken into account by Real Madrid in their efforts to reduce the length of Rudiger’s ban.
Vazquez was handed a two-match suspension, to be served exclusively in Copa del Rey fixtures.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid have confirmed that left-back Ferland Mendy sustained a hamstring injury, while central defender David Alaba has suffered a meniscus rupture in his left knee.
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