Rudiger Apologizes After Copa del Rey Final Incident

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has issued an apology to the match official after being ejected for throwing an item at him during their 3-2 Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona on Sunday. This defeat marked Madrid’s third of the season against their rivals.

The incident occurred in the 120th minute when referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea sent off the Madrid defender. Teammates Jude Bellingham and Lucas Vazquez were also dismissed for voicing their disagreement.

In his official report, Referee De Burgos Bengoetxea stated that Rudiger was sent off for “throwing an object from the technical area, which missed me”.

Reports indicate that Rugiger threw a piece of ice at the referee.

Rudiger took to Instagram on Sunday to express his regret and admit his error.

“There’s absolutely no justification for my actions,” Rudiger stated in his Instagram story.

“I am deeply sorry for what happened. I apologize again to the referee and to everyone I have let down.”

The German footballer may be facing a lengthy suspension, as indicated by the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) disciplinary guidelines.

According to article 101, Rudiger could be suspended for anywhere between four and twelve games. Furthermore, if article 104, addressing “assault against referees”, is deemed applicable, he could be banned for a period of three to six months. Should the act be regarded as a “serious risk”, even without the referee needing medical care, the suspension could range from six months to one year.