Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has come to the defence of compatriot Antonio Rudiger, who faces the prospect of a lengthy suspension following a controversial incident in Saturday’s Copa del Rey final.
Rudiger, who is of Sierra Leonean descent, is currently under scrutiny for throwing an ice pack toward match officials after being substituted during Real Madrid’s loss to Barcelona.
The act earned him a red card, and he now risks a ban of up to 12 matches.
Speaking on an Icon broadcast, Kroos expressed frustration at the public reaction to Rudiger’s conduct.
“I totally agree with Felix (Toni’s brother) when he says that people are now calling for his exclusion from the national team… especially people who, at the time, would have deserved to be banned themselves,” he said.
Kroos added: “I wrote to him after the match, and he himself is aware that it was probably a series of linked errors that night.
“We must be aware that many do not know what really happened. It was a Clásico, a cup final, he fought like a lion, he has had knee problems for weeks, there are various incidents. But now he will receive a sanction, and that’s it.
“We must not pretend that he killed someone. We must always be careful not to automatically follow the flow of collective indignation.”
While Kroos urged calm and understanding, German football legend Lothar Matthäus issued a far harsher appraisal.
“He seemed to have gone mad, he was out of control,” said Matthäus.
“He’s a German international, he should be a role model but he’s completely forgotten about that. If he gets away with a four-week ban, he’ll be happy. I’m thinking more of a double-digit ban. I expect a massive ban.”
Rudiger’s fate now lies with disciplinary authorities as Real Madrid await an official ruling.
