Ilkay Gundogan Criticizes Antonio Rudiger Outburst: ‘Big Mistake, Deserved the Ban’

Antonio Rudiger’s National Team Teammate Reflects on His Copa Final Meltdown and Suspension.

Germany team international and Antonio Rudiger’s teammate Ilkay Gundogan has spoken out on Antonio Rudiger’s controversial behavior during the Copa del Rey final. He branded the Real Madrid defender’s actions as provocative and worthy of the six-match suspension he received.

Rudiger lost his composure during the high-stakes final between Real Madrid and Barcelona. He had already been substituted during the match when he tried to throw a pack of ice toward the referee after a contentious decision. He was shown a red card due to the incident.

🚨 Jude Bellingham’s red card has been removed. No ban for Real Madrid player.

Two games ban for Lucas Vázquez, six games ban for Toni Rüdiger. ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/UmjwSL2EyH
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 29, 2025

His meltdown was followed a foul by Kylian Mbappe on Barca defender Eric Garcia. The foul had halted a Real Madrid attack which seemed to had triggered Rudiger. As a result, the defender has been banned for six games. He has subsequently underwent knee surgery which has ruled him out for the rest of this season.

Also Read: They Simply Can’t Beat Us – Lamine Yamal Aims Brutal Dig at Real Madrid After Barcelona’s Copa Del Rey Final Triumph

‘Crossed the Line’ – Gundogan Reacts

Gundogan has played alongside Rudiger in the German national team. He also played against the defender at club level. Gundogan known to be very honest about his opinions, spoke bluntly in his assessment. Speaking to Bild, the midfielder said:

“If Rüdiger is in your team, you see his actions as very good and aggressive. But if he is your opponent, you are angry with his actions. I think the suspension he received was a sufficient punishment and it will be a big lesson for him. Antonio is often very emotional. Unfortunately, in the Cup final, he could not control his emotions and went too far. I think his action was a big mistake.”

However, it wasn’t all criticism from Gundogan. He also praised Rudiger’s on-field intensity and character off the pitch. He said:

“When you have Toni with all his strength and passion on the team, you can get a lot out of him on the field… I know Toni as a family man. I would never question his character; I respect him very much.”

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Even with his personal admiration for Rudiger, Gundogan emphasized that the Real Madrid defender now must deal with the fallout:

“Toni now has to bear the consequences, either in the sporting field or with public opinion, especially in Germany.”

The title race has not concluded yet with Real Madrid trailing Barcelona at the top only by four points. The two sides will play a title-decider El Clasico on May 11. Rudiger’s absence will be a massive loss for Real Madrid. However, with the offense, he must serve the punishment now.

Antonio Rudiger

Barcelona

Copa del Rey

El Clasico

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.