Khaberni - German defender Antonio Rudiger sparked a wave of outrage in the Spanish stadiums following Real Madrid's defeat to Getafe (0-1) on Monday, after escaping a certain red card following a tackle that was described as violent against player Diego Rico.
In the 27th minute of the match, Rudiger thrust his knee directly towards Rico's face in a breath-stopping moment, yet, surprisingly, the referee decided to continue the game without intervention from the "VAR" room, which ignited angry protests both inside and outside the stadium.
A state of dismay prevailed in the sports circles, where refereeing experts described the incident as "brutal" and deserving of a red card without debate. Some media personalities went as far as to describe the tackle as one of the most violent scenes recently witnessed on the fields, asserting that the hit was strong enough "to break" the player's jaw.
The refereeing team was not spared from criticism either, as their performance was described as weak and not up to "La Liga" standards.
This controversy recalls a series of behavioral issues by Rudiger, including an incident where he threw a tape roll towards the referee in last year's King's Cup final, putting the German player once again under the microscope of criticism for his aggressive style in crucial matches.
