Real Madrid's 3-2 defeat to Barcelona on Saturday night could cost more than the Copa del Rey title, as Jude Bellingham, Lucas Vazquez and Antonio Rudiger in particular nervously await the final punishment for their unsporting antics.
Carlo Ancelotti's side were 2-1 up with six minutes of normal time remaining before they succumbed to a late Barcelona turnaround. Ferran Torres forced extra time and Jules Kounde won the final with a low, skidding effort in the 116th minute, but there was still time for three Real Madrid players to get sent off.
A night of extreme tension - heightened by rumours of Real Madrid boycotting the contest entirely after referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea's tears in the pre-match press conference - boiled over in the 122nd minute.
The scrutinised official, who had already awarded Barcelona a penalty which was overturned by VAR, blew for a foul against Kylian Mbappe, sending the Real Madrid bench wild. Vazquez charged onto the pitch in disgust while Rudiger took his protests one step further.
The German centre-back appeared to rip off the ice packs which had been strapped to his knees and hurled them towards the referee. Rudiger was promptly sent off, yet had to be restrained by a swarm of technical staff and fellow substitutes to avoid an even more serious offence.
Once the final whistle was belatedly blown, Bellingham also received his marching orders. As outlined in the referee's official report, the England international "approached our position in an aggressive manner, having to be restrained by his teammates".
Antonio Rudiger could be facing a lengthy ban after being sent off for throwing ICE at the referee during the Copa del Rey final
TakeSporty
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Publisher: 90min
Publisher: 90min
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