Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has been handed a six-match suspension by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following his explosive behavior during the dying moments of the Copa del Rey final clash against FC Barcelona.
The German international lost his temper after a controversial decision by referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who awarded a late free-kick against Kylian Mbappe as Real Madrid pushed for a dramatic equalizer. The decision led to boiling tempers, and Rudiger, in a moment of rage, hurled a bag of ice at the official. He was subsequently restrained by teammates as he attempted to charge onto the pitch. The match ended in heartbreak for Madrid, with Jules Kounde’s goal proving decisive.
Despite the length of the suspension, the practical impact on Rudiger and Real Madrid will be minimal. The club had already announced earlier the same day that Rudiger had undergone knee surgery, ruling him out of the remaining five games of the current season. As a result, the suspension will primarily affect the start of the 2025-26 campaign, with the defender set to miss the first game of that season.
Fellow defender Lucas Vazquez was also penalized for his actions during the incident, receiving a two-game ban. However, as Vazquez is expected to depart the club this summer, and the suspension is only valid for Copa del Rey fixtures, it is unlikely to impact Real Madrid’s future squad plans.
In a surprising turn, the RFEF’s Disciplinary Committee chose not to sanction Jude Bellingham, who was shown a red card during the same encounter. The committee cited the lack of clear video evidence to uphold the sending-off.
Injuries continue to mount for the club as well. Real Madrid released medical reports confirming that left-back Ferland Mendy has suffered a thigh injury, ruling him out for the rest of the season. Additionally, central defender David Alaba has torn his interior meniscus ligament and will also miss the remaining fixtures.
With Rudiger sidelined both through injury and suspension, Real Madrid faces the final stretch of the season without several key defensive figures, adding pressure on the remaining squad to close the campaign strongly.