The fallout from the Copa del Rey final continues to rumble on. Former footballer Christophe Dugarry sparked controversy by slamming Real Madrid’s behavior before and during their 3-2 loss to Barcelona. Dugarry believes the Spanish giants’ pre-game campaign against the referee was unbecoming, asking, “What kind of message does that send to young players?”
A Call for Consequences
Dugarry thinks Real Madrid should face severe punishment for their actions, particularly for targeting the referee and the red cards given to Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius Junior. “If they don’t face consequences, it’ll be a disaster for football,” he warned. “Real Madrid hit rock bottom.”
Dugarry’s criticism of Rudiger was scathing. He said Rudiger’s on-bench outburst, which required staff intervention, overshadowed his positive contributions to the team. “All the good he’s done for Real Madrid was ruined by that one moment,” Dugarry said, visibly frustrated. He also expressed concern that young fans might be turned off by the behavior of football’s leaders, saying, “I’m not surprised if kids turn their backs on the sport because of how some leaders act.”
Dugarry’s comments were made during an appearance on RMC, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding Real Madrid’s actions in the Copa del Rey final.