Former ref: “Rüdiger’s ban should be closer to 12 matches than to 4”

Iturralde González comments on the possible punishment facing Real Madrid’s German defender for his actions in the Copa del Rey final against Barça.

Madrid fans are anxiously awaiting the sanction that could be handed to Antonio Rüdiger for his behavior towards the referee during the Copa del Rey final, in which FC Barcelona beat Real Madrid after an exciting extra time. The center-back, furious over a foul called against his team, threw an ice pack at referee De Burgos Bengoetxea. Although it didn’t hit him, it could have caused serious trouble.

Former referee Iturralde González spoke about the incident and the potential punishment on ‘Cadena Ser’ radio:

“It’s violence against the referee, and the suspension could be between 4 and 12 matches. More like 4 or 12? Let me put it this way: if you’re a fan and you throw a glass or something at a referee, you get kicked out of the stadium and banned from returning.”

Iturralde believes that “if you’re a player, the ban should be closer to 12 matches than to 4. If a fan throws something at a referee, Antiviolence committees get involved, they kick him out of the stadium, revoke his membership… So if the Disciplinary Committee gives only four matches, the message would be: ‘if you’re a player, you can do whatever you want to a referee, but if you’re a fan, you can’t.’”

Additionally, Iturralde said that Rüdiger’s apology afterward “is not a mitigating factor because it wasn’t a spontaneous apology. I mean… if I throw something at a referee intending to hit him, two hours pass, the referee is still at the stadium, I’ve already showered, calmed down, and still don’t apologize — those apologies from players and coaches are usually prompted by the club’s legal departments. I don’t believe any of them.”