According to reports, Antonio Rüdiger apologized via an Instagram post for his behavior after the final whistle of El Clásico against Barcelona: “There is certainly no excuse for my behavior last night. I am very sorry.”

Rüdiger wrote: “There is no excuse for my behavior last night. I am very sorry and apologize to the referee.”

He also acknowledged the good performance of his team in the second half and admitted his inappropriate behavior again: “We played very well in the second half. After 111 minutes, I could no longer help my team and made a mistake before the final whistle. I apologize again to the referee and everyone I disappointed.”

How Did It Start?

Rüdiger lost his temper in the final moments of the match when De Burgos called a foul by Mbappé on Eric García, dashing Real Madrid’s hopes for a draw. The entire Real bench stood up in protest, and Rüdiger threw an ice piece towards the referee’s area, which did not reach him. After receiving a red card, the player aggressively charged towards the referee and twice attempted to throw an ice pack at him.

The ice pack was torn before the situation worsened, thanks to the intervention of a technical staff member. His second attempt was also thwarted by Mendy and Vayho. Several members of Real Madrid, including players and staff, managed to calm him down and prevent further escalation, though the threat of a heavy suspension still looms over him, potentially sidelining him for 4 to 12 matches.