German FA sporting director Rudi Voller has called Antonio Rudiger’s Copa del Rey final antics “unacceptable.” The defender is currently awaiting word on whether he will receive a massive suspension. As irritation mounted on the sidelines, Rudiger was sent off despite being replaced in extra time against Barcelona. The former Chelsea player was also spotted hurling an object at referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea.
The players were obviously upset with the Spaniard’s behavior that evening, and there had been rumors that Madrid might skip the final because of the referee’s choice. However, Rudiger’s actions have been extensively denounced. Voller, a prominent personality in German football, has now voiced his opinion.
German Sporting Director Slams Rudiger’s Actions
The defender himself has since apologised for his behaviour
Voller, speaking about the incident as reported by the Mirror, criticized Rudiger’s behavior and said, “Toni is a great player, but as a national team player, he must also show class in his behaviour. He rightly demands respect for himself, but he must extend that same respect to others without exception. In this case, he and some teammates allowed themselves to be swept up by the extremely heated atmosphere that, inexplicably, often surrounds the club even before kickoff. That is unacceptable, particularly for a German international.” The duration of Rudiger’s ban is unknown, but according to Spanish FA regulations, it could range from 12 games if the incident is deemed to be considered “mild violence” towards the referee, to six months if the case is classified as “assault against a referee.”
The precise reasons why the defender was sent out were also detailed in Bengoetxea’s game report: “Player (22) Rudiger, Antonio, was sent off in the 120th minute for the following reason: For throwing an object from the technical area, which missed me.” Several coaching staff members had to detain him after he was shown the red card due to his hostile demeanor.
Rudiger’s Sincere Apology After His Final Reprimand
The defender expressed regret for what he had done.
After the game, Rudiger took to social media to express his regret for his behavior and acknowledge that there was no justification for it.
“There is absolutely no justification for the way I behaved last night. “I sincerely apologize,” the Champions League champion remarked. “We played a great game from the second half onwards, but I was unable to support my team after 111 minutes, and I made a mistake just before the final whistle. I apologize once more to everyone I let down last night, even the referee.
With only five games left for Madrid to overcome a four-point lead to Barcelona at the top of the table, Rudiger’s red card will undoubtedly cause him to miss most, if not all, of the team’s La Liga run-in.
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