'I didn't kill him!' - Antonio Rudiger defends himself against 'exaggerated' response to kneeing Getafe star's face in Real Madrid loss

Real Madrid defender AntonioRudiger has responded to the controversy surrounding his collision with Getafe's Diego Rico during a recent 1-0 defeat. The incident, which occurred on March 2, saw Rudiger appear to drive his knee into the face of Rico while the opponent was on the ground, sparking widespread criticism and calls for a suspension, though the referee took no action during the match.

Ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League match with Manchester City, Rudiger acknowledged the images looked terrible but insisted his intentions were not malicious. He stated that while the contact was unfortunate, it was exaggerated in public discourse, and he emphasized that he did not intend to injure Rico, noting his physical style has limits he does not cross.

The controversy was amplified by DiegoRico, who claimed after the game that he would have faced a 10-game suspension if roles were reversed, alleging the act was deliberate following an earlier on-field scuffle. Media figures and pundits described the tackle as brutal, with many suggesting Real Madrid benefited from a lack of VAR intervention.

Adding to the scrutiny, La Liga's Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) later admitted an error was made. In their analysis, they concluded the incident constituted violent conduct, as Rudiger made contact with a grounded opponent without contesting the ball, and stated that both the referee and VAR should have identified it, warranting a direct red card. Despite this admission, the match result stands, and Rudiger remains eligible to play for Real Madrid.