The preparations for the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid took a dramatic turn a day ahead of the match, set to be played on Saturday, April 26. Madrid hit out against the referees who are going to officiate the final match of the tournament, accusing the match referees of having “animosity and hostility” towards the club.
Madrid urged the Spanish FA to take action against the officials and even boycotted the customary press conference a day before the final. Controversy struck when referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea held an emotional press conference before the match, criticising Real Madrid TV for targeting him over previous decisions taken on the football field.
De Burgos expressed his distress over making a video package like that and said, “When a child arrives at school and his mates tell him that his father is a thief, it makes you sick.”
He went on to emphasise his integrity and the challenges faced by many officials, in professional football and at the grassroots level.
“What I do is try to educate my son to tell him that his father is an honest man, that he makes mistakes like any other sportsman. It’s very hard, I don’t recommend it to anyone.
“It is not right what we are going through for many colleagues… Let everyone reflect on where we want to go, on what we want from sport and from football.”
‘NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THIS’
Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, the VAR official for Saturday’s final who was seated next to De Burgos, said referees would soon take action due to the continuous pressure they faced.
“In a few days you all will see,” he said. “We are going to make history and we are not going to continue to put up with what we are putting up with. A strike? You will have news from us soon.”
REAL MADRID TAKE OFFENCE
Real Madrid noted the comments made by the referees in the press conference and hit back with a statement on Friday, a day before the final, stating that the statements from the referee had been made with an intention to “threaten”.
Madrid added that the press conference was “far removed from the principles of fairness, objectivity and impartiality that should prevail just a few hours before a football event”.
BARCELONA’S COMMENTS
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said on Friday that action should be taken to protect referees.
“For me, it’s only a sport. It’s only a game. It’s only football… It is our responsibility to protect not only the players but all the people involved in the game,” Flick told a press conference.
In February, the RFEF highlighted referees’ concerns over abuse, citing the case of official Jose Munuera Montero who faced a backlash after issuing a red card to Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
A few weeks earlier, Real had also lodged a letter of complaint against the Spanish referees following their 1-0 defeat by Espanyol.
BARCELONA vs REAL MADRID: LIVE STREAMING
The Copa del Rey final will kick off at 1:30 AM IST on April 27 for viewers in India. The match will be held at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, Spain.
Indian fans can watch the match live online through the FanCode app and website.
BARCELONA vs REAL MADRID: PREDICTED LINE-UPS
Barcelona (4-2-3-1):
Szczesny (GK); Kounde, Cubarsi, Iigo Martinez, Martin; De Jong, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Ferran Torres.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1):
Courtois (GK); Valverde, Asensio, Rudiger, Fran Garcia; Modric, Tchouamni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr.; Mbappe.
