Sanctions after the Copa del Rey: Rüdiger and Lucas punished and Bellingham without sanction, how is it possible?

The sanctions that some Real Madrid players will receive after the incidents that occurred at the end of the Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona (3-2) have already been announced. The controversy broke out in the last play of the match, when the referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea sanctioned a foul by Kylian Mbappé on Eric García for a clear slap in the face of the Catalan defender. This decision provoked the fury of the 'merengue' team and led to a chaotic situation that ended with three players being sent off:

• 🟥 Antonio Rüdiger
• 🟥 Lucas Vázquez
• 🟥 Jude Bellingham

Rüdiger, the most punished: six-match ban

The harshest sanction was for Antonio Rüdiger. The German defender completely lost control from the bench. Several of his teammates had to hold him back to prevent him from entering the field to confront the Basque referee. According to the minutes written by De Burgos Bengoetxea:

"In the 120th minute he was sent off for throwing an object from the technical area without reaching me. After being shown the red card he had to be held by several members of the technical staff showing an aggressive attitude"

The Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has ruled a sanction of six matches suspension. The '22' will serve the punishment while recovering from a medical procedure, as he recently underwent surgery for a partial tear in the external meniscus of his left leg and will be out for six to seven weeks, missing the remainder of the season.

Lucas Vázquez, sanctioned with two matches

Lucas Vázquez was also sent off in the final minutes and his punishment will be less: two matches suspension. According to the referee's report:

"In the 120th minute he was sent off for protesting one of our decisions by entering several meters onto the field, making gestures of disagreement"

Thus, the Galician full-back will not be available in Real Madrid's next league commitments, against Celta de Vigo at the Santiago Bernabéu (05/04) and FC Barcelona (05/11) at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

Jude Bellingham, without sanction despite the initial red card

The most surprising case has been that of Jude Bellingham, who was also sent off, although he will finally not serve any sanction. The original report stated:

"Once the match was over, he approached our position in an aggressive attitude, having to be held by his teammates"

However, the Competition Committee has withdrawn the red card after reviewing the images, since: "The images provided accredit a reality different from that related in the referee's report, since there is neither proximity to the referee, nor is an aggressive attitude observed, nor can it be seen that his teammates held him back to avoid an action against the referee."

Will there be an appeal by Real Madrid?

With the sanctions already officialized, it remains to be seen whether Real Madrid decides to file an appeal to try to reduce or annul the sanctions of Rüdiger and Lucas Vázquez, or if, on the contrary, it accepts the ruling and considers this controversy closed.