Antonio Rudiger has released a statement following the red card he received in the aftermath of Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey final defeat against Barcelona.
The Real defender is facing a lengthy suspension after appearing to throw ice at the referee and shouting aggressively while being held back by histeammates during the closing stages of last night’s thrilling match.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea also handed out red cards to Jude Bellingham and Lucas Vázquez for protesting.
De Burgos wrote in his match report that Rudiger ‘threw an object from the coaching area that didn’t reach me,’ adding that the former Chelsea star displayed ‘an aggressive attitude.’
Rudiger had already been substituted off when he had to be held back by Real players and staff while he held a small bag of ice. He continued to shout at De Burgos.
The Germany international must now wait to find out what disciplinary action will be taken against him but apologised for his actions in a shortmessage on Instagram.
He wrote: ‘There’s definitely no excuse for my behaviour last night. I’m very sorry for that. We played a very good game from the second half on.
‘After 11 minutes I was not able to help my team anymore and before the final whistle I did a mistake.
‘Sorry again to the referee and to everyone I have disappointed last night.’
A Jules Kounde goal in the dying minutes of extra time handed Barcelona a dramatic 3-2 win over fierce rivals
Barca won a record extending 32nd Spanish Cup title thanks to a stunning strike from the French defender, who slotted a low drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards in the 116th minute.
Pedri put Barca ahead in the 28th minute with a brilliant curling strike into the top corner from outside the box in a first-half they dominated.
However, Real took control in the second half as Kylian Mbappe, who was absent from the starting XI as he has yet to regain full fitness from an ankle injury, came off the bench to score the equaliser from a free kick in the 70th minute.
Aurelien Tchouameni gave Real Madrid the lead seven minutes later with a towering header from a corner before Ferran Torres found the equaliser in a counter attack in the 84th minute that took the game to extra time.
Just when it seemed like the title would have to be settled in a penalty shootout, Kounde finally scored the winner that earned Barca a title that gave German manager Hansi Flick his first major title with Barca, crowning a brilliant season in which they are also bidding for the LaLiga and Champions League titles while Real are now left only with LaLiga as they bid to avoid a trophy-less campaign.