In the recently concluded Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid lost to Barcelona 3-2. The match not only cost Real Madrid the title, but also featured a scene that made people less honorable: three players, Antonio Ruediger, Lucas Vazquez and Jude Bellingham, were sent off with red cards one after the other.
Of these, Rüdiger’s actions drew the most criticism. The game reached the 121st minute of extra time when the referee blew the final whistle and Real Madrid, who were on the attack, were forced to abandon the game. Rüdiger was very upset and lost control of his emotions. He was replaced by the coach and returned to the bench, but instead of calming down, he jumped up from his seat and angrily threw a water bottle at the referee.
The referee saw this scene and did not hesitate to show Ruediger a red card. However, Rüdiger’s anger didn’t stop there, as he threw another cold stone for good measure. Seeing how tense the situation was, Real Madrid’s assistant coaches and other players rushed over to calm him down before the situation deteriorated further.
Rüdiger’s actions caused a lot of controversy after the game. Many fans criticized him on social networks, believing that his behavior not only affected the team’s image, but could also cause problems for Real Madrid’s next matches.
Faced with mounting public pressure, Ruediger quickly posted an apology on his social account. He wrote on his personal page:
“My behavior last night was wrong and there is no reason to apologize. I am truly sorry. We actually improved our performance in the second half. But in the 111th minute of the game I was substituted and could not help the team any more. When the game was almost over, I couldn’t control my emotions and made a big mistake. I want to apologize to the referee and to all those who were hurt by my actions.
According to Spanish media outlet Cadena SER, Rüdiger could face punishment from the Spanish Football Federation as a result. According to the rules, he could be suspended for between 4 and 12 games. If this punishment is indeed enforced, it will undoubtedly be a huge blow to Real Madrid, who are in the final sprint of La Liga and are still 4 points behind Barcelona.
Real Madrid are in a very tight situation and every game is crucial. If Rüdiger is banned for a long time, the team’s defense will be under even more pressure. Real Madrid will have to go all out to overturn their deficit in the standings, and the incomplete line-up will undoubtedly add to the difficulty.
This King’s Cup final was originally a good opportunity for Real Madrid to prove themselves, but it left bad memories due to emotional outbursts. For Rüdiger himself, the incident has become a lesson to be pondered in his career – in a high-pressure game, keeping calm and rational is far more important than a momentary emotional outburst.