Jules Kounde’s late strike in extra time secured a 3-2 win for Barcelona at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, while tensions reached a boiling point as Antonio Rudiger, now facing serious consequences, threw an ice cube at referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea shortly before the match ended.
The controversy surrounding Madrid’s treatment of referees in Spain gained attention ahead of the final after De Burgos Bengoetxea became emotional during Friday’s pre-match press conference. ..Continue Reading
Madrid’s behavior during Saturday night’s showdown has once again put the spotlight on their interactions with officials.
Television cameras captured Bellingham as he vented his frustration at De Burgos Bengoetxea and his team while walking down the tunnel at half-time.
‘Make him understand, everything is going their [Barcelona’s] way, everything 50-50 goes their way,’ Bellingham was heard telling the referee while he was being led away by Madrid captain Lucas Vazquez.
In his official post-match report to the Spanish Football Federation, De Burgos Bengoetxea confirmed Rudiger had thrown ‘an object which missed me’, while Bellingham was sent off for an ‘aggressive attitude’ towards the officials.
The report read: ‘In the 120th minute, player (22) Rüdiger, Antonio, was sent off for the following reason: For throwing an object from the technical area, which missed me. After being shown the red card, he had to be restrained by several members of the coaching staff, displaying an aggressive attitude.
‘In the 120th minute, player (17) Vazquez Iglesias, Lucas, was sent off for the following reason: For protesting one of our decisions, entering the field of play for several meters, making gestures of disagreement.
‘In the 999th minute, player (5) Bellingham, Jude Victor William, was sent off for the following reason: After the end of the match, he approached our position in an aggressive attitude, having to be restrained by his teammates.’
Rudiger is now facing significant consequences for his actions after being held back from directing further aggression toward the referee by six individuals on the sideline, including Madrid teammates Ferland Mendy and Jesus Vallejo.
Following the final whistle, the ex-Chelsea defender attempted to approach the referee once more but was intercepted by Luis Llopis, Madrid’s goalkeeping coach, and goalkeeper Andrii Lunin.
‘I’m deeply saddened by Vinicius and Rudiger’s reaction. Rudiger’s attitude, especially, was deplorable,’ Dani Garrido, the host of Carrusel Deportivo, said after the match.
‘Lucas may have insulted, Vinicius came off like a madman, but what Rudiger did is unforgivable, and he’s going to get a historic ban.’
Barcelona opened the scoring in the first half through Pedri, only for Real Madrid to draw level in the 70th minute as Kylian Mbappe, recovering from an ankle injury, came off the bench to make an impact.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men briefly gained the upper hand with a goal from Aurelien Tchouameni, but Ferran Torres equalized in the 84th minute, sending the match into extra time.
Barcelona were left frustrated in the opening half after two controversial penalty decisions went against them—Federico Valverde’s apparent handball was overlooked, and Dani Ceballos escaped punishment for a clear shirt pull on Pau Cubarsi during a corner.
VAR later dismissed another penalty appeal in the second half when Raul Asencio brought down Raphinha inside the box.
Ultimately, Jules Kounde’s stunning long-range strike in extra time secured victory for Barcelona. Hansi Flick’s side remains in contention for a treble this season, sitting four points clear of Madrid in La Liga, with a Champions League semi-final first leg against Inter on the horizon next Wednesday.
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