Controversy: Will the players sent off in the Cup final play in the Liga Clásico?

Real Madrid's defeat in the Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona (3-2) unnerved three 'merengue' players in the final minutes of the match. Antonio Rüdiger, Lucas Vázquez, and Jude Bellingham were sent off for insulting and attempting to assault referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea.

If they receive sanctions of 4 or more matches, the 3 players would be out for the 'Casa Blanca' for the Clásico of matchday 35 of LaLiga. However, a lesser punishment would only leave them out of the first 2 or 3 matches of the next edition of the Copa del Rey.

Rüdiger should receive more than 4 to 12 matches of sanction, but...

According to De Burgos Bengoetxea's report, Rüdiger was sent off for "throwing an object from the technical area without hitting me. After being shown the red card, he had to be restrained by several members of the technical staff, showing an aggressive attitude."

As it is an attempted assault on the referee, the center-back should receive a sanction of 4 to 12 matches, as established by article 101 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code. Therefore, he would have to serve his punishment in LaLiga and would be suspended for Madrid's visit to Montjuïc on May 11.

However, if the Competition Committee interprets the defender's conduct as "violent behavior", he will only be sanctioned with 2 or 3 matches, a punishment that he would serve in the next edition of the Copa del Rey.

Both the images and De Burgos Bengoetxea's report show Rüdiger's intention to assault the referee by throwing a water bottle. But the precedents this season, the latest of them with Kylian Mbappé receiving only one match sanction after a criminal foul on Antonio Blanco, give reasons to expect another disciplinary farce.

In addition, Vinicius Jr., who also threw an object at the main judge, did not receive any punishment, as he was not warned by the referee or the fourth official. González Fuertes, from the VAR, did not warn anything either.

De Burgos manipulates the report to free Lucas and Bellingham from an exemplary sanction

In the case of Jude Bellingham, the main judge's report will be key to freeing him from a punishment greater than 3 matches. Although the Englishman insulted De Burgos and also had to be restrained by the 'merengue' bench, the Basque referee only describes the midfielder's complaint as the cause of the expulsion.

"Once the match was over, the player approached our position in an aggressive attitude, having to be restrained by his teammates," wrote the referee. With this, it is likely that he will receive 1 or 2 matches of suspension that he would serve next season in the round of 32 of the Cup.

And, as for Lucas Vázquez, he should also suffer a similar punishment. Although the Madrid captain also insulted the main and fourth referee, entering the field from the bench, De Burgos only points to a red card "for protesting one of our decisions entering several meters into the field of play, making gestures of disagreement."

In this way, the Competition Committee will be able to once again adulterate the regulations in favor of the 'Casa Blanca', allowing three of its starters to play a decisive match. Barça and Madrid will define LaLiga in Montjuïc on matchday 35, where the culés can seal the championship with a victory.