Source:REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
[Saba Sports News] According to Spanish media reports, after Real Madrid’s 3-0 away win against Real Oviedo, Antonio Rudiger personally apologized to the referee whom he had previously thrown tape at. The report states that Rudiger’s return was not just an ordinary match; he was returning to action for Real Madrid after completing a long suspension. Fate seemed to arrange a symbolically charged coincidence: the referee for this match was Ricardo De Burgos Bengoechea, the same official who sent Rudiger off for improper conduct in last season’s Copa del Rey final. In that incident, Rudiger, having lost his temper, threw a kinesio tape strip at the referee and charged towards him. However, this chance encounter turned into an opportunity he had long awaited. After the match, the Real Madrid defender sought out the referee and apologized to him face-to-face. Previously, Rudiger had already apologized publicly on social media, but he felt it necessary to confront the referee personally to make amends for his past mistake. It is reported that De Burgos also accepted Rudiger’s apology. The two held a calm and constructive conversation, ending on friendly terms. For Rudiger, it was a relief; he not only regained his feeling on the La Liga pitch but also closed a dark chapter in his career.