Overview
- Antonio Rüdiger threw ice cubes at the referee during Real Madrid's 3–2 Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona, earning a red card and sparking widespread criticism.
- The Spanish Football Federation is expected to impose a suspension of four to twelve matches under its disciplinary guidelines for the incident.
- Rüdiger issued a public apology the morning after the match, calling his actions inexcusable and expressing regret to the referee and others affected.
- DFB Sport Director Rudi Völler condemned Rüdiger's behavior but confirmed no additional sanctions from the German national team, citing his remorse and discussions with team leadership.
- Former players and pundits, including Lothar Matthäus and Dietmar Hamann, have called for Rüdiger's exclusion from the Nations League squad, while others argue against overreaction.