Police called after Real Madrid and Valencia confrontation at Mestalla

Police were called to separate Real Madrid players and Valencia officials after tensions boiled over in the Mestalla tunnel following their La Liga meeting.

The confrontation reportedly became physical, with Antonio Rudiger involved in an altercation with a member of Valencia’s private security team. The incident took place after the match, which was played in the 12th round of La Liga.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, the security employee was hit while attempting to break up the dispute. Real Madrid players involved in the confrontation included Rudiger, Eder Militao and Jude Bellingham.

The tensions began after Valencia’s players objected to the decision that led to Federico Valverde’s opening goal, which put Real Madrid 1-0 ahead. Referee Hernandez Maeso had awarded a foul against Maffeo for an offence on Kylian Mbappe, but the decision was disputed by the home side.

A number of Valencia players, led by captain Jose Gaya and including Guido Rodriguez and Pepelu, attempted to make their objections known to Hernandez Maeso as he walked towards the referees’ dressing room. Members of Valencia’s coaching staff and sporting director Braulio Vazquez also joined them.

Real Madrid players criticised Valencia’s reaction and told them to stop and go to their dressing room. That exchange heightened the tension and led to security personnel intervening to keep the two groups apart.

The reports said a member of the security team was struck by Rudiger during the attempt to separate those involved. National Police officers were subsequently called to the area.

Vazquez incident recorded by referee

Hernandez Maeso also included details of an incident during half-time in his official match report. It involved Valencia sporting director Vazquez and the first assistant referee.

The referee’s report stated: “He caused a confrontation and went as far as confronting my first assistant, repeatedly addressing him in an angry tone, saying: ‘It’s not a foul, it’s not a foul! What a thing!’”

Hernandez Maeso added: “Likewise, when I passed by him, he directed the same words at me on several occasions, maintaining an angry tone and agitated behaviour.”

The report concluded: “As a result of this situation, the intervention of National Police officers was necessary. They checked his identity and had to hold him and remove him from the area to bring the incident to an end.”