Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger faces a lengthy ban after his actions towards referee Ricardo de Burgos in the 2025 Copa del Rey final.
Rüdiger and his Real Madrid teammate, Lucas Vázquez, both of whom had been substituted, received straight red cards for their angry reactions to a foul called against Kylian Mbappé shortly before the final whistle.
The referee wrote in his report that Rüdiger was sent off for “throwing something from the bench but it didn’t hit me.” The German player actually threw an ice cube he had on his foot at the referee.
If punished under Article 101, which covers “mild violence” towards officials, Rüdiger could receive a suspension of between four and 12 matches.
However, if his actions are deemed more serious, Article 104, which covers “assaults against referees,” states that players may be suspended for between three and six months if “the act was an isolated act and did not cause any harmful consequences.”
If the act is deemed to pose a “serious danger,” even without requiring medical attention, the suspension could extend to between six months and a year.
On Sunday morning, Rüdiger took to social media to apologize for his actions, saying that nothing justified what happened and that his behavior lacked respect.
