Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger learns Copa del Rey final red card punishment after aiming missile at referee as Jude Bellingham escapes sanction for rage against Barcelona

Tempers boiled over towards the end of the Copa del Rey final between arch-rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona as Rudiger burst into a fit of rage and launched a projectile towards the referee, and then had to be held back by multiple staff members as he was shown a red card. Rudiger was one of three Madrid players to be sent off during Barcelona's 3-2 extra-time win, with Bellingham and Lucas Vazquez also being shown red on the grounds of 'aggressive behaviour'.

The Spanish Football Federation has now disclosed their final decision on the punishments for the Blancos stars on their official website. Rudiger has been handed a six-match ban, and Vazquez will serve a two-game suspension. Bellingham, on the other hand, has escaped punishment as his red card has been reversed.

Vazquez will miss the club's first two Copa del Rey clashes in the 2025-26 campaign, however, Rudiger's punishment is applicable across all competitions in Spain as the number of matches of suspension is more than four. This means that the German defender will miss the club's last five La Liga games and then will remain sidelined for their opening fixture of the new season.

Earlier on Tuesday, Madrid had put out an official club statement to confirm that Rudiger has undergone surgery on his left knee after picking up an injury in the Copa del Rey final. In essence, the ban will not have much impact on the player as he would have remained out of action for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign following the surgery. He will, however, miss the opening La Liga game of 2025-26.