Antonio Rudiger has issued an apology after being sent off for throwing an ice cube at the referee during Real Madrid’s defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.
Rudiger had 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.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea said in his report that former the Chelsea defender was sent off for “throwing an object from the technical area, which missed me”.
Reports in Spain said the object thrown by Rudiger was an ice cube.
Rudiger is now facing a lengthy ban for the incident at the end of the Copa del Rey final, which Barcelona won 3-2 thanks to a late goal in extra-time from Jules Kounde.
The Spanish Football Federation disciplinary code states that “mild violence” towards referees could result in a suspension of between four and 12 matches.
But 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”.
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