Antonio Rüdiger and Jude Bellingham found themselves at the centre of a half-time confrontation in the Mestalla tunnel after security staff stepped in to separate Real Madrid and Valencia players.
Tensions spilled over from the pitch into the tunnel with Madrid leading 2–0. José Mourinho’s side went on to win 3–0 on matchday 12 of La Liga.
The dispute began when Valencia players protested a foul called against Pablo Maffeo for a challenge on Kylian Mbappé. Federico Valverde opened the scoring from the resulting free kick, and several Valencia players tried to take up the decision with referee Francisco José Hernández Maeso as he left the pitch.
According to AS, Rüdiger, Bellingham and Éder Militão told the Valencia players to stop protesting and head to the dressing room. The confrontation escalated and security staff intervened. Cadena SER named Maffeo, César Tárrega and Luis Rioja among the Valencia players involved.
AS quoted eyewitnesses who said Rüdiger struck a member of Valencia’s security staff as he tried to separate the players. Nacho Sanchis, a journalist with À Punt, said Bellingham struck one security guard and Rüdiger slapped another. He added that both guards reported the incident to the referee.
Hernández Maeso’s match report recorded a separate incident in the tunnel. It said Valencia sporting director Braulio Vázquez confronted the first assistant referee and repeated his objections to the referee, prompting police to establish his identity and escort him away. The report made no mention of any security staff being struck or of a clash between players.
“I don’t know what happened. I went in first and was already in the dressing room,” Valencia coach Javier Aguirre said. “I was told there had been an altercation.”
Suspensions remain possible if the disciplinary committee opens an investigation and other evidence substantiates the allegations. The Spanish federation’s disciplinary rules allow the committee to consider evidence beyond the referee’s report. Article 103 provides for a ban of four to 12 matches if a deliberate assault that caused no injury is established.
A report from La Liga’s match delegate could be among the evidence submitted to the committee. Cadena SER reported that the delegate witnessed the confrontation. Neither player has been suspended so far.
