Real Madrid learn length of Antonio Rudiger ban after Copa del Rey red card | OneFootball

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have issued a six-game ban to Real Madrid centre-back Antonio Rudiger for his conduct during the Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona.

Rudiger, who had been substituted earlier in the game, was shown a red card for leaving the bench and throwing an ice pack in the direction of referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in the aftermath of a controversial decision. The German had to be forcibly restrained by club staff as he sought to enter the pitch and confront the official.

The severe nature of his outburst put Rudiger, whose conduct was slammed by the German Football Association, at risk of a ban of up to 12 matches, but the RFEF have confirmed he will instead serve a six-game suspension for "for minor violence against the referees."

Typical suspensions are restricted to the competition in which the initial incident took place, but suspensions of over four matches are carried out across multiple competitions, meaning Rudiger's ban will count for La Liga games. Madrid have five remaining this season and the German will be banned for all of them.

Perhaps sensing a significant ban, it was revealed on Tuesday that Rudiger had undergone knee surgery on the very injury he was attempting to soothe with the ice pack on the bench. He is expected to miss around two months and his La Liga season was brought to an abrupt end even before the suspension was dished out.

However, he will still be banned for the first domestic game of Madrid's 2025/26 campaign.

Right-back Lucas Vazquez, who was sent off for dissent, has been hit with a two-game suspension which will be served in next season's Copa del Rey.

The red card shown to midfielder Jude Bellingham for similar reasons has been rescinded. Referee De Burgos Bengoetxea claimed in his match report that the England international was "aggressive" and needed restraining, but Madrid have succeeded with their efforts to disprove those claims.