Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger has been handed a six-match suspension following his red card in the club’s Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona.
Meanwhile, teammate Jude Bellingham’s red card has been rescinded after a review by the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee.
Rüdiger, who had been substituted before the incident, was sent off in the 120th minute for throwing an object from the technical area and displaying “an aggressive attitude,” according to referee Ricardo de Burgos’ match report.
The committee upheld the referee’s version, dismissing Madrid’s appeal which cited the player’s subsequent apology as mitigating.
Rüdiger has since undergone knee surgery and is expected to miss up to two months.
Lucas Vázquez also received a two-game ban for entering the pitch post-substitution to protest the referee’s decisions.
Bellingham was initially dismissed after the final whistle for allegedly approaching officials aggressively.
However, video evidence contradicted the official’s report, showing no aggression or restraint by teammates.
The red card was therefore annulled due to what the committee deemed a “material, manifest error.”
The disciplinary fallout follows a turbulent final, marred by Madrid’s boycott of pre-match obligations in protest over perceived bias from match officials.
The club had already been under pressure, having exited the Champions League and trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga.
