Real Madrid accuses referees of showing clear hostility ahead of Copa del Rey final against Barcelona in Seville

Just when you thought the Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and Barcelona couldn’t get any more intense, a major controversy exploded on the eve of the match — and it’s not about the players this time.

Instead, all eyes have turned to the referees, and the drama has shaken preparations for one of Spain’s biggest sporting events.

Real Madrid Boycotts Pre-Match Events After Referee’s Emotional Press Conference

On Friday, Real Madrid made the bold move of boycotting pre-match activities, furious over what they described as clear “animosity and hostility” from the match officials.

The catalyst? Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea broke down in tears during an emotional press conference, responding to criticism aired on Real Madrid’s in-house TV channel, RMTV.

The club, shocked by the referee’s public display and comments, immediately raised concerns about a conflict of interest and questioned whether he should still officiate the final.

A club insider told Reuters that the decision was driven by “unprecedented astonishment” at De Burgos’ behavior.

While Real stopped short of formally demanding a new referee, they clearly pushed for the Spanish FA to intervene.

Real Madrid Defends Their Actions and Calls for Change

Later that evening, Real Madrid released a formal statement backing their TV channel’s freedom of expression and insisting the referees had demonstrated “clear and manifest animosity” towards the club.

They urged the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and its Refereeing Committee to protect the reputation of Spanish football and take swift action.

Despite the heated atmosphere, RFEF president Rafael Louzan played it cool, declining to comment directly on the situation and calling for “calm, responsibility, and common sense” from everyone involved.

Real Madrid Shoots Down Rumors About Withdrawing from the Final

As the rumor mill went into overdrive, Real Madrid felt the need to make another statement — this time, to firmly deny they were considering pulling out of the final altogether.

“At no time has our team considered withdrawing,” the club stressed.
They emphasized their commitment to the fans, many of whom had already traveled to Seville, and insisted they would play out of respect for the sport’s values, even though they felt referees had again shown hostility toward them.

RMTV Video Criticizing Referee Sparks Emotional Response

The root of the controversy was a video released by RMTV the day before, highlighting what it claimed were major mistakes by De Burgos throughout his career.
In his press conference, the referee poured his heart out, sharing the personal toll this kind of public criticism had taken on him.

Using a powerful metaphor, he said, “When a child arrives at school and hears that his father is a thief, it makes you sick.”
De Burgos went on to talk about the pressures referees face, from grassroots football all the way up to professional matches, and defended his integrity against what he called unfair attacks.

VAR Official Hints at Possible Referee Strike

Adding even more fuel to the fire, Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, the VAR official for Saturday’s final, hinted that referees were ready to take drastic action if the pressure continued.

“Very soon, you’ll see. We’re going to make history,” he warned ominously.

“We are not going to continue to put up with this.”
Real Madrid pointed out that Fuertes’s comments sounded “threatening” and argued that this attitude clashed with the principles of fairness and impartiality expected before such a major match.

Barcelona’s Hansi Flick Steps In, Urges Respect for Referees

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick also weighed in on Friday, choosing to take a more calming approach.
“For me, it’s only a sport.

It’s only a game. It’s only football,” he said. Flick stressed that everyone involved in the game, not just players but referees too, deserved protection and respect.

His comments echoed growing concerns in Spain about the escalating abuse faced by referees, both on and off the pitch.

Ongoing Tensions Between Real Madrid and Spanish Referees

This latest scandal isn’t the first time Real Madrid have clashed with referees this season.

Back in February, the RFEF acknowledged that Spanish officials were worried about the increasing hostility towards them, highlighting the case of referee Jose Munuera Montero, who came under fire after sending off Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.

And just a few weeks before that, Real Madrid had officially complained to the Spanish Federation after a controversial defeat against Espanyol.

High Drama Before a Match Watched Around the World

With tensions sky-high, both teams are now preparing to step onto the pitch under a global spotlight, knowing hundreds of millions of fans will be watching.
Despite the chaos behind the scenes, Real Madrid insists that the spirit of football must prevail.

All eyes are now on Seville — not just for the clash between two giants of Spanish football, but to see if the match officials can keep their cool amid unprecedented pressure.