Real Madrid chose to opt out of all planned pre-match activities ahead of the Copa del Rey final, citing frustration with comments made by match officials concerning pressure from the club’s media outlet, Real Madrid TV.
In Seville, the Spanish giants skipped several key events: the official press conference, open training session, the customary dinner between club presidents, and a scheduled pre-final photo-call.
The decision came just hours after the referees assigned to Saturday’s showdown against Barcelona publicly expressed concern over the treatment they’ve received from Real Madrid’s media platform.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who is officiating the high-stakes final, became visibly emotional while speaking about the personal toll criticism from Real Madrid TV had taken on his family.
“When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea said during a press briefing.
“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued, becoming emotional.
“This is really messed up… but the day I leave (the job), I want my son to be proud of what his father is, and what refereeing is, it has given us many values.”
Wiping away tears, the 39-year-old called on the football community to take the issue of referee abuse more seriously.
“It’s not right what we are going through, many colleagues, and not just in professional football, but also at grassroots level,” he added.
“Everyone should reflect about where we want to go, about what we want from sport and from football.”
Real Madrid, who this week aired another controversial video on their TV channel targeting the referee for the final — a move they’ve repeated with other officials this season, reacted strongly to the referees’ emotional outcry.
“Real Madrid considers the public statements made by the Copa del Rey final referees unacceptable,” the club declared in a statement.
“These statements, made in a premeditated manner 24 hours before the final against one of the participants, demonstrate, once again, a clear and manifest animosity and hostility of these referees towards Real Madrid.”
The club was particularly incensed by comments from Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, the referee in charge of VAR for the final, who hinted at potential collective action against Real Madrid TV’s behavior.
“Even more surprising statements, in a threatening tone… to announce supposed measures or actions that are far removed from the principles of fairness, objectivity and impartiality that should prevail just hours before (the final),” the statement read.
“In view of the seriousness of what has happened, Real Madrid hopes that those in charge of the RFEF and the refereeing profession will act accordingly, adopting the relevant measures in defence of the prestige of the institutions they represent.”
Fuertes had earlier warned that the officials had had enough and were ready to act.
“Have no doubt that we are going to have to start taking much more serious measures than we are taking,” he said.
“We will not continue to allow what is happening. Soon, you will hear from us.
“We are going to make history, because we are not going to continue to bear what we are putting up with.”
This incident marks another chapter in Real Madrid’s long-standing discontent with Spanish officiating. Back in February, the club published an open letter accusing the refereeing system in Spain of being “rigged” and “completely discredited.”
In a separate case last October, they boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony after Vinicius Junior was overlooked for the top individual award.
“Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected,” the club had said then.
Now, in yet another bold move, the Spanish champions are reportedly calling for a change of match officials just hours before kickoff, with speculation even hinting at the possibility of refusing to play if their demands are not met.
