FC Barcelona secured the Copa del Rey in a heated final against Real Madrid, but it was Antonio Rudiger who stole the spotlight after being sent off post-substitution. The German center-back has now received a heavy suspension for throwing a bag of ice at the referee.
Rudiger had been substituted in the 111th minute of the final—when the match was tied 2–2—just before Jules Kounde scored the decisive goal for Barcelona. Emotions boiled over after referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea awarded a foul in favor of Barca, sparking outrage from the Real Madrid bench. Amid the chaos, Rudiger threw a bag of ice that narrowly missed the referee, who promptly showed him a red card.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed a six-match suspension for Antonio Rudiger in domestic competitions, meaning he will be unavailable for the remainder of the La Liga season. The suspension only applies to Spanish competitions like the league or Copa del Rey, not European competitions.
In his official match report, De Burgos explained the reasoning behind the red card: “He was sent off for throwing an object from the technical area, although it did not hit me. After the red card was shown, he had to be restrained by several members of the coaching staff, displaying an aggressive attitude.”
Real Madrid will also be without Lucas Vazquez for two Copa del Rey matches following a separate suspension. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham’s red card was rescinded, making him available for the club’s next match.
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Rudiger to serve ban while recovering from injury
With Real Madrid trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga and only three matches remaining in the 2024–25 season, losing Rudiger is a significant blow to the defense. However, the German international is set to miss those games regardless due to injury.
Rudiger underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to repair a partial tear in the lateral meniscus of his left knee. The estimated recovery time is six to eight weeks, effectively ruling him out for the rest of La Liga. He is expected to return in time for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
