TV cameras have caught what Jude Bellingham shouted in the tunnel at half-time during Real Madrid’s 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday night. Jules Koundé’s goal in extra time sealed the victory for La Blaugrana at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, and while tempers flared at full-time, there’s evidence to suggest that tensions had been simmering from the early stages.
Antonio Rüdiger is now facing severe punishment for throwing an ice cube at referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, but he wasn’t the only one to vent his frustration at the officials. Los Blancos’ treatment of referees in Spain was the focal point in the build-up to the Copa del Rey final, after De Burgos Bengoetxea broke down in tears during the officials’ pre-match press conference on Friday.
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Real Madrid defender is facing a potential long ban following his conduct during his side’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona.
There were even suggestions at one point that, because of Carlo Ancelotti’s bosses’ feelings that the referees are against them, the current Champions League and La Liga holders were considering not taking part in the weekend’s final. Bellingham’s half-time reaction underlines this ongoing animosity even further.
The Englishman was also unhappy with the officiating
As the players headed down the tunnel for half-time, Bellingham was caught by television cameras tearing into De Burgos Bengoetxea and his team. He said (see the incident below):
“Make him understand, everything is going their [Barcelona’s] way, everything 50-50 goes their way.”
Ironically, it was Rudiger who tried to calm the 21-year-old down. However, by the time the final whistle had blown, both players found themselves at the centre of controversy. Rudiger now faces repercussions for the aforementioned incident in which he threw ice towards the referee, while Bellingham was sent off shortly after full-time for showing aggression towards the officials.
As per the Metro, the referee’s post-match 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.”
Amidst the thunder and fury, it now appears Real Madrid will finish their 2024/25 campaign with no silverware to gloat about. After being eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final, and having lost to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, they could discover a similar misfortune in La Liga after falling to a four-point deficit with five games left to go.