Diego Rico on Antonio Rüdiger’s brutal knee to the face: “I would’ve been suspended for ten games”
Getafe defender questions VAR after Antonio Rüdiger escapes punishment in Real Madrid’s shock defeat
Getafe defender questions VAR after Antonio Rüdiger escapes punishment in Real Madrid’s shock defeat
Getafe defender Diego Rico has hit out at Antonio Rüdiger after a controversial incident during Real Madrid’s surprise 0-1 home defeat on Tuesday night.
The flashpoint came in the 26th minute at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, with the score still level, when Rico and Rüdiger became entangled following a coming together moments earlier.
As Rico lay on the turf, replays appeared to show the Real Madrid centre-back drive his knee into the Spaniard’s face not once, but twice.
Referee Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz took no action, and the incident was not reviewed by VAR, a decision that left Getafe players and supporters stunned.
Rico required treatment before continuing and later expressed his disbelief at the lack of punishment.
“If it had been the other way around, I would have been suspended for ten games and wouldn’t have played all season,” Rico told COPE. “I don’t know what VAR is for because it should be there for situations like this.”
The former Bournemouth full-back suggested the challenge was not accidental, claiming tensions had already flared in the build-up.
“It’s well known that he’s going to deliberately foul me because in the previous play we had a scuffle,” Rico said.
“On his way back to defence he was saying things, and in the next play the ball came to me and you can see how he even pushed a teammate aside to smash my face in.
“If he had caught me off guard, he could have left me lying there on the grass.”
How did Rudiger not get a red card for this horrible challenge? 😭😭😭
— MC (@CrewsMat10) March 2, 2026
Previous with Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly
It’s not the first time the German international has carried out similar off-the-ball action. Among other incidents, during last season’s Champions League quarter-final at the Bernabeu against Arsenal, Rudiger bundled Myles Lewis-Skelly to the groundbefore stamping on his chest.
LaLiga woes put pressure on Arbeloa
Real Madrid ultimately paid the price on the night, with Getafe securing a shock victory that leaves Los Blancos four points behind Barcelona at the top of LaLiga.
Frustration inside the stadium was evident as sections of the crowd voiced their displeasure, increasing scrutiny on head coach Alvaro Arbeloa during a pivotal stage of the campaign.
