Rüdiger Handed Six-Match Ban for Throwing Object at Referee

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger has been suspended for six La Liga matches by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after being found guilty of “minor violence towards the referees” during Saturday’s Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona.

The incident occurred late in extra time in Seville after Rüdiger, who had already been substituted, reacted angrily alongside teammate Lucas Vázquez to a foul given against Kylian Mbappé.

Both players were shown straight red cards from the technical area. Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea noted in his report that Rüdiger, 32, “threw an object… which missed me”. Reports suggest the object was an ice cube. Vázquez received a separate two-match ban, to be served in future Copa del Rey fixtures.

In contrast, a red card shown to midfielder Jude Bellingham for dissent after the final whistle was rescinded by the RFEF.⁵ The federation stated that video evidence provided by Real Madrid disproved the referee’s report of Bellingham acting aggressively towards him.

Rüdiger, who apologised for his behaviour after the final, could have faced a ban of between four and 12 matches under the RFEF’s disciplinary code (Article 101).

His six-game suspension will apply to La Liga matches, ruling him out of Real Madrid’s final five league games this season and the first match of the 2025-26 campaign.

However, the immediate impact of the ban is likely to be limited, as the Germany international underwent successful surgery on Tuesday for a partial tear in the meniscus of his left knee.

While Real Madrid did not provide a recovery timeline, Spanish media report he could be sidelined for six to eight weeks. This timeframe rules him out for the rest of the domestic season and makes him a doubt for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins in the United States on June 15.

Real Madrid’s defensive injury woes were further compounded with the news that left-back Ferland Mendy has suffered a rupture in his right thigh, while centre-back David Alaba has ruptured the meniscus in his left knee, potentially ending both their seasons.