Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger is facing a lengthy ban for his actions during Los Blancos’ dramatic Copa Del Rey final defeat by Barcelona.
The former Chelsea star received a red card for throwing an ice pack towards referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after objecting to a decision in the closing stages of their 3-2 defeat.
Madrid’s bench erupted after the official awarded Barcelona a free-kick for a foul by Kylian Mbappe during Madrid’s final attack, with Rudiger, Vinicius Junior and Lucas Vazquez – who had all been substituted – storming onto the pitch to protest the call.
The German had to be held back by team-mate Ferland Mendy and a Madrid staff member when the official approached to send him off. He could be seen insulting the referee, with some reports claiming the defender said ‘you’re a miscarriage’ and ‘son of a wh***’.
In addition to Rudiger, Vazquez was dismissed for his actions, while Jude Bellingham was shown a red card after the final whistle ‘approaching the referee aggressively’ and needing ‘to be restrained by team-mates’.
A clip that has circulated on social media shows the Englishman ranting: ‘Everything 50/50 goes their way, everything 50/50.’
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger is facing a lengthy ban for his actions during Los Blancos ‘ dramatic Copa Del Rey final defeat
Madrid players acted furiously to referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea’s decisions throughout the night
In addition to Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez was also shown a red card for going onto the pitch late on
Madrid’s fury towards the official comes in the wake of criticism directed at him from the club’s in-house TV channel which brought Bengoetxea to tears and threatened to result in the cancellation of the fixture.
Real Madrid TV had broadcast a video showing the official’s mistakes and highlighting that he had never been in charge of a Champions League or FIFA level match before. The campaign against him brought Bengoetxea to tears in his pre-match press conference, where he urged for the attacks to stop.
In turn, Madrid boycotted several pre-match activities, leading to fears that they would snub the clash. However, late on Friday, the club released a statement insisting that they ‘never intended’ to boycott the game.
Rudiger’s extraordinary actions in Seville are likely to result in a mammoth ban that could end his season. In 2012, then Granada star Dani Benitez was banned for three months for throwing a bottle at an official.
Afterwards, the 32-year-old said there was ‘no excuse’ for his behaviour and admitted to making ‘a mistake’.
‘There’s no excuse for my behaviour last night. I’m very sorry for that, sorry to the referee,’ he said. ‘We play a very good game from the 2nd half on.
‘After 111 minutes, I was not able to help my team anymore and before the final whistle I did a mistake.’
The action on the pitch was every bit as grippy as the fracas off it, as Barcelona maintained their bid to win their latest European treble. The Blaugrana clinched a record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title thanks to Jules Kounde scoring an extra-time winner.
Jude Bellingham was shown a red card after the final whistle ‘approaching the referee aggressively’ and needing ‘to be restrained by team-mates’
The Englishman could be heard ranting: ‘Everything 50/50 goes their way, everything 50/50.’
In comes after the referee was targetted by Madrid’s in-house TV channel in the lead up to the match
Barcelona have won all three clasicos this season and remain on course to win a European treble
Spanish midfielder Pedri dictated the game for Barcelona from midfield and scored from long range to take a 28th minute-lead at La Cartuja Stadium.
Madrid rallied in the second half and scored twice, with Mbappe coming off the bench at halftime and scoring from a free kick in the 70th and midfielder Aurelien Tchouaméni’s header in the 77th making it 2-1.
Ferran Torres leveled in the 84th to force extra time – and set the scene for Kounde to complete the comeback.
Barcelona has beaten Madrid in all three of the clasicos this season, including a 5-2 rout in the Spanish Super Cup final in January after winning 4-0 at Madrid in the league in October.
‘This was such a physically demanding game, but we showed that we are a great team that never gives up,’ said Torres, who filled in perfectly for the injured Robert Lewandowski.
The loss to its fierce rival was another blow to Madrid after it was knocked out of the Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal. This could have been its last title decider with Carlo Ancelotti in charge. The Italian coach said he will decide his future this summer amid speculation he is bound to take over Brazil.
Ancelotti, when asked about his future, said: ‘As I have said, I can continue, I can stop, it will be a topic for the coming weeks.’
