Rudiger given six-game ban for throwing object at referee

Antonio Rudiger, a Real Madrid defender, was banned from all competitions for six matches after striking the referee in the Copa del Rey final.

Rudiger and Real teammate Lucas Vazquez, who had both been substituted, were shown straight red cards in Seville for furious behavior toward Kylian Mbappe shortly before the break when they both reacted.

In his report, Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea claimed center-back Rudiger, 32, was dismissed for “flipping an object from the technical area.”

Rudiger allegedly threw an ice cube at the official, according to Guillem Balague of BBC Sport.

The German defender was given a six-game suspension “for minor violence against the referees,” according to the report from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

After the final whistle, the RFEF also voided the red card that Real midfielder Jude Bellingham received for disapproval.

Rudiger could have been suspended for four to twelve matches under the terms of article 101 of the RFEF disciplinary code, which prohibits “mild violence” against referees.

Rudiger’s suspension will only be served in league games for the duration of the entire season, which is when it begins next year.

He will be prohibited from playing in La Liga’s final five games this campaign as well as the campaign’s opening game, 2025-26.

After having knee surgery on Tuesday and being out for the rest of the season, Rudiger is unlikely to suffer significantly from the ban.

Real did not specify a recovery date, but Spanish media reports suggest that he might be out for six to eight weeks, which would make him unfit for the Club World Cup, which will begin on June 15.

Rudiger apologized for the incident, saying that there was “definitely no excuse” for his actions.