Tensions were already sky-high as Real Madrid and Barcelona battled for Copa del Rey glory, but things spiraled completely out of control after the final whistle.
What was meant to be a thrilling night of football turned chaotic, leaving players facing hefty consequences.
Antonio Rudiger Faces Heavy Suspension After Losing His Cool
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger is staring down the possibility of a lengthy ban after an explosive outburst during the final moments of Madrid’s 3-2 loss to Barcelona.
The former Chelsea star received a straight red card after hurling an ice pack toward referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, protesting a critical decision that didn’t go Los Blancos’ way.
Madrid’s bench, already simmering with frustration, exploded when the referee awarded a free kick to Barcelona following a foul by Kylian Mbappé during what could have been Madrid’s last chance to equalize.
Rudiger, along with Vinicius Junior and Lucas Vazquez—both of whom had already been substituted—stormed the pitch to voice their anger.
Scenes Turn Ugly as Players Clash With Officials
Things got even uglier when Rudiger, furious and uncontrollable, had to be restrained by teammate Ferland Mendy and a member of Madrid’s coaching staff as he confronted the referee.
Reports swirling online suggest Rudiger hurled serious insults at the official, allegedly calling him “a miscarriage” and “son of a wh***.”
Rudiger wasn’t the only one to face punishment. Lucas Vazquez also picked up a red card for his involvement, while Jude Bellingham was shown red after the final whistle for aggressively approaching the referee.
A video doing the rounds on social media captures Bellingham fuming: “Everything 50/50 goes their way, everything 50/50.”
Real Madrid’s Tensions With the Referee Had Been Brewing
This eruption didn’t happen in a vacuum. In the days leading up to the final, Real Madrid TV aired a controversial segment highlighting past mistakes by referee Bengoetxea.
They pointed out that he had never officiated at a Champions League or FIFA tournament level, adding more fuel to an already tense atmosphere.
The criticism clearly got to Bengoetxea, who broke down in tears during his pre-match press conference, pleading for the personal attacks to stop.
Despite the tension, Madrid ultimately decided against boycotting the match, issuing a late statement affirming they never intended to pull out.
Rudiger Could Be Facing a Season-Ending Ban
Given the severity of his actions, Rudiger could be sidelined for a long time.
History offers a grim precedent: back in 2012, Dani Benitez of Granada was slapped with a three-month suspension for throwing a bottle at an official.
Rudiger himself later admitted fault, telling reporters:
“There’s no excuse for my behavior last night. I’m very sorry for that, sorry to the referee.
“We played a very good game from the second half on, but after 111 minutes, I made a mistake when I couldn’t help my team anymore.”
Barcelona Clinch the Trophy With Grit and Guts
While the drama off the pitch dominated headlines, the match itself was a thriller.
Barcelona edged Madrid to claim their 32nd Copa del Rey title, thanks to an extra-time winner from Jules Kounde.
Spanish midfielder Pedri gave Barcelona an early lead with a stunning long-range strike, setting the tone at La Cartuja Stadium.
Madrid fought back valiantly in the second half.
Mbappé made an instant impact after coming on at halftime, scoring from a free kick in the 70th minute.
Aurelien Tchouaméni then headed Madrid into a 2-1 lead just seven minutes later.
But Ferran Torres rescued Barcelona, netting an equalizer in the 84th minute to force extra time.
Kounde’s decisive goal ensured Barcelona would once again get the better of their fierce rivals.
Barcelona Dominates El Clasico Battles This Season
Barcelona’s win in the final continues their dominance over Madrid this season.
The Blaugrana have now won all three Clasicos this campaign, including a crushing 5-2 victory in the Spanish Super Cup and a commanding 4-0 league win at the Santiago Bernabéu.
“It was such a physically demanding game, but we showed that we’re a great team that never gives up,” said Torres, who stepped up in the absence of the injured Robert Lewandowski.
More Questions Than Answers for Madrid’s Future
This painful loss is just the latest blow for Madrid, coming shortly after their Champions League quarterfinal exit at the hands of Arsenal.
With manager Carlo Ancelotti’s future also up in the air, the club is now entering a period of uncertainty.
When asked about what lies ahead, Ancelotti kept his cards close to his chest: “As I have said, I can continue, I can stop — it will be a topic for the coming weeks.”