Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has apologised for being sent off after throwing an ice cube towards the center referee during his team’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey Final.
The German international had already been substituted and was on the bench when he and Real team-mate Lucas Vazquez were both shown straight red cards for reacting angrily to a foul given against Kylian Mbappe in extra-time shortly before the final whistle.
Rudiger appeared to throw something towards the center referee and had to be held back by Real Madrid coaching staff after being sent off.
In a statement, Rudiger said: “There’s no excuse for my behaviour last night. I’m very sorry for that, sorry to the referee. We played a very good game from the second half on. After 111 minutes, I was not able to help my team anymore and before the final whistle I did a mistake.”
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea said in his match report that Rudiger was sent off for “throwing an object from the technical area, which missed me.”
The former Chelsea man is now facing a lengthy ban following the incident. Reports in Spain claim the object thrown by Rudiger was an ice cube. The Spanish Football Federation disciplinary code states that “mild violence” towards referees could result in a suspension of between four and 12 matches.
If Rudiger’s actions are deemed more serious, then he may be banned for three to six months if the incident is deemed an “assault against referees”. If the act is deemed as having posed a “serious risk”, even without the referee requiring medical attention, the suspension could extend to between six months and a year.