Rudiger given six-game ban for throwing object at referee

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has received a six-match ban. He was punished for throwing an object at the referee during the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.

Rudiger and teammate Lucas Vazquez were both substituted. They received straight red cards in Seville for reacting angrily to a foul on Kylian Mbappe.

Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea reported that Rudiger, 32, was dismissed for "throwing an object from the technical area." The object missed the referee.

BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague stated that Rudiger threw an ice cube at the official. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed his six-game suspension for "minor violence against referees."

The RFEF also revoked Jude Bellingham's red card for dissent after the match. The referee noted Bellingham approached aggressively and needed restraint from teammates. However, Real provided video evidence disproving this claim.

Under article 101 of the RFEF disciplinary code, Rudiger faced a suspension of four to twelve matches. His six-game ban will apply only to league matches, extending into next season.

He will miss the last five La Liga games this season and the opening game of 2025-26.

Rudiger's ban may not significantly impact him since he had knee surgery on Tuesday. Reports suggest he could be out for six to eight weeks, ruling him out for the rest of the domestic season.

This timeline also makes him doubtful for the Club World Cup starting June 15. Rudiger apologized for his actions, stating there was "definitely no excuse" for his behavior.

The RFEF noted this apology as attempted mitigation by Real to reduce his ban. Meanwhile, Vazquez has been suspended for two games in Copa del Rey fixtures.