Real Madrid Skip Copa del Rey Final Prep Over Referee Dispute

The buildup to the Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and Barcelona took a dramatic turn as Real Madrid pulled out of all pre-match events, accusing the referees of being unfair and hostile toward them. The move came after an emotional press conference by referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who broke down in tears while responding to criticism from Real Madrid TV (RMTV).

RMTV had broadcast a video pointing out what they called officiating mistakes by De Burgos, claiming Barcelona won 81% of games he refereed compared to Real Madrid’s 64%. Visibly upset, De Burgos shared how the attacks hurt his family, saying, “When my kid goes to school and his friends call me a thief, it’s heartbreaking.” He stood up for his honesty, admitting referees make errors but insisting he’s always fair. The VAR official, Pablo González Fuertes, backed him up, hinting that referees might take action if the criticism continues.

Shocked by the referees’ emotional response, Real Madrid cancelled their press conference, training session, and other commitments. In a statement, they called the referees’ comments “unacceptable” and defended their TV channel’s video as free speech. They urged the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to step in, arguing the referees’ words showed clear bias against them.

Rumours spread that Real Madrid might skip the final altogether, but they later clarified they’d play, saying, “We’d never let down our fans or the sport.” The RFEF refused to replace the referees, standing by their team. Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, tried to calm things down, saying, “It’s just a game. We need to respect everyone, including refs.”

With the El Clasico set to kick off at Estadio La Cartuja, the focus is split between the game and this heated referee controversy, especially as Real Madrid look to bounce back from their recent Champions League loss.