Rüdiger apologizes for violent Copa del Rey final outburst: “No excuse for my behavior”

Antonio Rüdiger took to Instagram to apologize for his actions following the final whistle of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona. The Real Madrid defender wrote, “There is definitely no excuse for my behavior last night. I’m very sorry for that.”

Rüdiger threw an object onto the field in the direction of referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea. After being shown a red card, he appeared to grab a bag of ice, seemingly intending to throw that at the referee as well. His teammates intervened and managed to restrain him, preventing the situation from escalating further but it was one of the ugly moments of the night.

The former Chelsea player also commented on Real Madrid’s performance during the match and his physical condition: “We played a very good game from the second half on. After 111 minutes, I was not able to help my team any more, and before the final whistle, I did a mistake (sic). Sorry again to the referee and to everyone I have disappointed last night.”

Rüdiger wasn’t the only Real Madrid player to lose his composure after their defeat in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona was confirmed. Jude Bellingham and Lucas Vázquez also received red cards. However, Rüdiger is at greater risk of facing a severe punishment.

How many games could Rüdiger miss through suspension?

Under Article 101 of the Disciplinary Code of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the German defender could be suspended for anywhere between four and 12 matches. The article states: “Any player who engages in mild violence against referees—for example, grabbing, pushing, shaking, or displaying other actions that are only slightly violent and lack aggressive intent—shall face a suspension ranging from four to 12 matches. If the offender is a medic, ATS, or physiotherapist for one of the participating teams, the penalty shall consist of a suspension ranging between four and six months unless the act constitutes a more serious offense, along with the corresponding financial penalty.”

Since the suspension is classified as severe, Rüdiger would have to serve it across all domestic competitions, including La Liga. As a result, depending on the number of matches he is banned for, the season for Real Madrid’s number 22 might have effectively ended last night at La Cartuja.

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