Antonio Rudiger has publicly apologized for his actions during Real Madrid’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. The Germany international, who had been a key figure in the match, expressed regret after attempting to confront referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and throwing an ice cube at him in the closing stages of the game.

The intense final saw Barcelona clinch victory after Jules Kounde’s extra-time goal, which came in the 111th minute. The match had been fiercely contested, and tensions reached a boiling point after Kounde’s decisive goal, spilling over onto the Real Madrid bench. In the heat of the moment, Rudiger’s actions resulted in a red card, further complicating matters for his team as they sought to mount a late challenge.

In the aftermath of the match, Rudiger acknowledged his mistake and took full responsibility for his actions. “There’s no excuse for my behavior last night,” he said. “I’m very sorry for that, sorry to the referee. We played a very good game from the second half on, but after 111 minutes, I was not able to help my team anymore. Before the final whistle, I made a mistake.”

Rudiger’s apology has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising his honesty and others emphasizing the need for more composure in such critical moments. The defender’s actions had threatened to overshadow an otherwise solid performance from Real Madrid, who had fought back strongly after a difficult first half.

Real Madrid will now look to regroup ahead of their upcoming fixtures, while Rudiger will undoubtedly be looking to restore his reputation and ensure that his emotions remain in check during future high-pressure encounters.