Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has come to the defence of Antonio Rudiger, who is facing criticism for his conduct during the recent 3-2 Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona.
Rudiger, who had been substituted for Endrick during extra time, was shown a red card while on the bench after launching an ice pack at referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea.
The footage has since gone viral, placing the Germany international at the centre of attention online.
Former midfielder Kroos has weighed in on the incident, offering a more sympathetic take on Rudiger’s moment of madness.
“I wrote to him after the match, and he himself knows it was probably a series of mistakes. We must be aware that many don’t really know what actually happens.
“It was a Clasico, a cup final, he fought like a lion, he has been struggling with a knee problem for weeks, and there are many issues,” Kroos said.
After I have played more than seven month with severe pain, it was unfortunately unavoidable that I had to undergo a meniscus surgery. Now I'm finally pain-free again, and the surgery was a success. 🙌🏾 Thanks to the medical team. I want to be able to play again as soon as… pic.twitter.com/HhrFD3Io1u
— Antonio Rüdiger (@ToniRuediger) April 29, 2025
“But now he will receive a sanction and that’s it. We shouldn’t act as if he killed someone. We must avoid blindly following the wave of collective outrage.”
While the official length of Rudiger’s ban has not been confirmed, reports suggest the penalty could range from four to twelve matches, depending on the outcome of the disciplinary review.
Following the defeat and red card, Rudiger took to social media to apologise for his actions.
“There’s definitely no excuse for my behaviour last night. I’m very sorry for that.
“We played a 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 made a mistake. Sorry again to the referee and to everyone I disappointed last night.”
Real Madrid have also confirmed that Rudiger will miss the remainder of the season through injury, meaning he would likely not be able to play during his suspension anyway unless it carries through to next season.
