German FA rule out sanction against Antonio Rudiger after antics in Barcelona defeat | OneFootball

Earlier in the day, German footballing icon Lothar Matthaus criticised Antonio Rudiger’s actions in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.

The Real Madrid defender was caught on screen throwing an ice-pack in the direction of the referee and being visibly distraught after the final whistle. The defender is already anticipating a hefty ban.

Matthaus reiterated the need to enforce a hefty ban on Rudiger. His compatriot and former Germany star Dietmar Hamann went a step further by urging the German Football Association (DFB) to suspend him.

Rudiger unlikely to be suspended by the DFB

However, a recent report from Frankfurter Allgemeine (h/t MARCA) has indicated that the German national team has no plans to suspend Rudiger following his actions in the Copa del Rey final.

According to the report, the DFB took into account Rudiger’s immediate reaction after the match, notably his public apology issued the following morning, where he expressed regret and apologized to the referee.

Rudiger won’t be sanctioned by the German national team (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

In addition, Rudiger proactively reached out to Germany’s sporting director Rudi Voller and head coach Julian Nagelsmann to personally apologize and discuss the situation.

This effort, along with his strong reputation for community work through his children’s foundations, played a role in the decision to avoid a suspension.

The DFB did, however, reprimand the Real Madrid defender, reminding him of his duties as a professional footballer.

Rudiger, meanwhile, is considering undergoing a knee surgery to overcome his fitness woes, knowing he might be sidelined due to a suspension for a long period of time.

The best case scenario could see the German international being ruled out for just four games, whereas the worst case scenario could lead to a 12-game suspension.