Real Madrid have cancelled their official news conference and training session ahead of tomorrow’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona after their request to have the referee changed was refused by the Spanish FA.
The row started when Madrid put out a video on their in-house TV channel highlighting the mistakes made by tomorrow’s official, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea.
De Burgos spoke the media today and broke down in tears after admitting the public criticism had affected his family.
He said: “When a child arrives at school and his mates tell him that his father is a thief, it makes you sick.
“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, not only in professional football, but also in grassroots football. Let everyone reflect on where we want to go, on what we want from sport and from football.”
🚨 El Real Madrid CF ha comunicado a la RFEF que no llevará a cabo la rueda de prensa ni el entrenamiento oficial previo a la final de la #CopaDelReyMAPFRE programado para hoy en el estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla. pic.twitter.com/x5wJSn2Xut
— RFEF (@rfef) April 25, 2025
Madrid’s demands rejected
Madrid are believed to be unhappy with De Burgos’ remarks – and those of tomorrow’s VAR Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes – and demanded the RFEF (Spanish FA) appoint different officials for the clash with their Catalan rivals.
The RFEF refused, prompting the European champions to pull out of all official events in the build-up to the game. Carlo Ancelotti was due to address the media tonight while the team were scheduled to train at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville. President Florentino Perez has also withdrawn from the traditional presidents’ dinner.
El Chiringuito TV, who have close ties with Madrid, said the club’s lawyers were preparing a letter demanding an apology from De Burgos and Fuertes while they were refusing to discount the possibility of travelling back to the capital without playing the game.
🚨Los ABOGADOS del REAL MADRID están preparando un COMUNICADO en el que club va a exigir una disculpa de los árbitros.
🚨 El Real Madrid PODRÍA VOLVERSE a casa SIN JUGAR LA FINAL.
ℹ️ @jpedrerol
*A las 12 ESPECIAL @elchiringuitotv en MEGA* pic.twitter.com/4tn0QdVDwn
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) April 25, 2025
Madrid’s unhappiness with referees is long standing
Madrid have been vocal in their criticism of referees this season, lodging a letter of complaint with the RFEF and Spain’s High Council in February, claiming the system was “rigged” and “completely discredited”.
There was a further backlash from the club’s supporters following the dismissal of midfielder Jude Bellingham for swearing at referee Jose Munuera Montero during the draw at Osasuna.
Fuertes said officials had had enough and suggested they had reached breaking point.
He said: “We are going to start taking real action, we are not going to continue to allow what is happening.
“In a few days you all will see. 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.”
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