Real Madrid have expressed outrage following an emotional press conference in which the referee for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final broke down in tears, citing the pressure placed on match officials by the club’s television channel, Real Madrid TV.
Despite the rising tensions, Real Madrid denied reports that they were considering withdrawing from Saturday’s high-profile Clasico final against Barcelona in Seville, which is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 BST.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who will oversee the final, has become the latest official to be targeted in Real Madrid TV’s critical programming. The channel recently aired a video scrutinizing his past performances, highlighting statistics that suggested bias, questioning his experience due to a lack of officiating in Champions League or FIFA tournaments, and pointing out alleged errors.
Fighting back tears during Friday’s press conference, De Burgos Bengoetxea said:
“When your child comes home from school crying because other kids are calling his father a ‘thief’, it’s heartbreaking. I tell him his father is honest, above all things—honest and human, and like any athlete, capable of making mistakes.”
Pablo González Fuertes, who will serve as the video assistant referee (VAR) for the final, also condemned the criticism from Real Madrid TV.
In protest, Real Madrid later chose to boycott official pre-match activities, including an open training session and the pre-final press conference. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed:
“Real Madrid have informed us that they will not take part in the press conference or the official training session ahead of the final.”
As the situation escalated, Real Madrid issued two official statements. In the second, the club directly addressed speculation over a potential withdrawal:
“Real Madrid CF announces that at no point has the club considered not playing in tomorrow’s final. We believe that the unfortunate and inappropriate comments made by the referees, just 24 hours before the match, should not overshadow an event of global significance. Out of respect for the fans—those traveling to Seville and those watching around the world—we will take part.”
The statement added:
“Despite the hostility shown by the appointed referees, Real Madrid insists that the values of football must prevail.”
This is not the first time Real Madrid has clashed with officiating authorities. In February, the club submitted a formal complaint to the RFEF and Spain’s High Council for Sports, accusing the refereeing system of being “rigged” and “discredited.”
During Friday’s press conference, De Burgos Bengoetxea expressed concern about the broader state of officiating in Spain:
“This goes beyond professional football—referees at every level are affected. We all need to think about the direction we want sport, especially football, to go in.”
Fuertes warned of serious repercussions if the treatment of referees continues:
“We will be forced to take more drastic action. We cannot allow this situation to carry on. We are on the verge of making history because we refuse to accept what we’ve endured any longer.”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick echoed the referees’ concerns, urging for change in the way football handles such tensions:
“This is just a sport—a game. It’s our duty to protect everyone involved, not just players. What happened today shouldn’t happen. Emotions run high during matches, but we must move on afterwards. Something has to change.”
The situation has cast a shadow over Saturday’s final, as the longstanding rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona plays out amid heightened scrutiny and calls for reform within Spanish football.
