Toni Rüdiger has issued a public apology after receiving a red card in Barcelona’s 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday night.
Following the heated encounter that extended into extra time, the Spanish Federation confirmed that Rüdiger, Jude Bellingham, and Lucas Vázquez, who were all sent off towards the end of the match, will be suspended.
However, it was clarified that Vinícius Jr. was not among the players sent off.
Addressing his actions, Rüdiger said, “There’s no excuse for my behaviour last night. I’m very sorry about that, sorry to the referee.”
Reflecting on the match, he added, “We played a very good game from the 2nd half on. After 111 minutes, I was not able to help my team anymore, and before the final whistle, I made a mistake.”
The match saw high drama at the Estadio de La Cartuja, with Barcelona clinching the title after goals from Pedri, Ferran Torres, and Jules Koundé sealed the 3-2 win over their fierce rivals.
Real Madrid had staged a comeback through Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni before eventually succumbing in extra time.
Tensions boiled over late in the game, culminating in a flurry of dismissals. According to the referee’s report, Rüdiger, Bellingham, and Vázquez were shown red cards and will now face suspension.
