Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has been handed a six-match ban for throwing an object at the referee during the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 27.

Rudiger and his Real Madrid teammate Lucas Vazquez were shown red cards for their reaction to a foul given against Kylian Mbappe shortly before the final whistle in Seville.

Later, it was found that referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea noted that the centre-back Rudiger, 32, was red-carded for "throwing an object from the technical area, which missed me." According to a BBC report, Rudiger threw an ice cube at the official.

Following the incident, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) handed the Germany defender a six-game suspension "for minor violence against the referees."

Rudiger could have received a suspension of between four to 12 matches under Article 101 of the RFEF disciplinary code, which covers "mild violence" towards referee.

Rudiger will serve the suspension in league matches, meaning that it will extend until the start of next season. He is now banned for the final five games in La Liga this campaign and for the opening game of the 2025–26 campaign.

Rudiger, however, will not be impacted by the ban. He underwent knee surgery on Tuesday, which ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Real Madrid did not set any timescale for his recovery, but according to Spanish media, he could be out for between six and eight weeks. This would make him doubtful for the Club World Cup, which starts on June 15.

Rudiger had apologised for the incident, saying there was "definitely no excuse" for his behaviour.

"There’s definitely no excuse for my behaviour last night. I’m very sorry for that,” Rudiger said on his social media accounts on Sunday.

“We played a very good game from the 2nd half on. After 111 minutes I was not able to help my team anymore and before the final whistle I did a mistake. Sorry again to the referee and to everyone I have disappointed last night.”

According to the RFEF, this apology was an attempt to reduce Rudiger's suspension.

Vazquez, on the other hand, has been handed a suspension for two games, both of which will be served in Copa del Rey fixtures.

The RFEF, meanwhile, revoked the red card given to Real midfielder Jude Bellingham for dissent after the final whistle.

The referee noted that Bellingham "approached our position in an aggressive attitude, having to be restrained by his team-mates," but the RFEF said Real had provided video evidence against his claim. Hence, they disapproved the red card.

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