Rüdiger gets 6-game ban after Copa final red

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has been given a six-game suspension by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for his behavior in the closing moments of Saturday's Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona.

Rudiger threw a bag of ice at referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea with seconds left to play and then had to be restrained by his teammates as he tried to run onto the pitch to vent his fury after the official gave a free kick against Kylian Mbappe as Real Madrid looked to level what turned out to be Jules Kounde's winning goal.

The ban is almost anecdotal given that Real Madrid announced earlier in the day that Rudiger had undergone a knee operation which means he will miss the last five games of the season anyway, meaning the ban will only affect the opening match of the 2025-26 campaign.

Defender Lucas Vazquez has been given a two-game ban for his reaction to the same incident, but with Vazquez due to leave Madrid this summer, the suspension, which is only applicable to the Copa del Rey, will not affect the club.

Meanwhile, the Disciplinary Committee has not sanctioned Jude Bellingham, who was also shown a red card, arguing there is no video evidence to support the red card.

Real Madrid on Tuesday also published medical reports in which they announced left back Ferland Mendy has suffered a thigh injury which will end his season, while central defender David Alaba has torn his interior meniscus ligament and also will not play again this campaign.