‘It was an assault’ – Getafe’s Rico calls for 10-game Antonio Rudiger suspension after knee incident

Getafe defender Diego Rico has demanded a ten-match ban for Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger, accusing the German centre-back of an on-pitch ‘assault’ during Monday night’s dramatic La Liga clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The controversy overshadowed a stunning 1-0 victory for Getafe, a result that dented Madrid’s title charge and handed Barcelona a four-point cushion at the summit. While the scoreline sent shockwaves through the title race, it was a flashpoint involving Rudiger and Rico that dominated post-match discussion.

Rudiger endured a difficult evening against a disciplined Getafe side and cut a frustrated figure for large spells. Midway through the contest, tensions boiled over when Rico went to ground following a challenge. As the defender lay on the turf, television replays appeared to show Rudiger driving his knee towards Rico’s face in an off-the-ball incident that escaped immediate punishment.

Agresión del jugador del Getafe en la rodilla de Rudiger, el VAR ni lo reviso y el arbitro no señaló nada. pic.twitter.com/TO6Nd93D8i

— Mundo Despectivo (@MundoDespectivo) March 2, 2026

Speaking to Deportes COPE after the match, Rico did not hide his anger. The former Bournemouth full-back insisted the act warranted severe disciplinary action and questioned why the Video Assistant Referee failed to intervene.

“If it were the other way around, I would have received a ten-game suspension or perhaps not played again this season,” Rico said. “I don’t understand what VAR is for if not for situations like this.”

He went further, describing the contact as deliberate and dangerous. “It was an assault. You can see he goes to hit me intentionally. In the previous move we had a coming together that resulted in a foul, and as he tracked back he was saying things to me. On the very next play, the ball came my way and you can see him even move his own teammate aside before coming at my face.”

Rico suggested the outcome could have been far worse had the contact been cleaner. “If he catches me differently, I could have been left lying there.”