Real Madrid dismiss cup final fears after referee’s tears

Real Madrid’s referee for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final cried after being under pressure from the club’s TV channel during a press conference.

However, they refute reports that they were considering resuming Saturday’s Clasico game against Barcelona in Seville (21:00 BST kick-off).

The game’s referee, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, is the most recent official to face criticism on Real Madrid TV this season.

In a club video, Barca and Real’s win percentages were highlighted, as was the fact that the Spaniard had never played in the Champions League or Fifa tournament, and that he had made allegedly error-prone mistakes.

What I do is instruct my son to say that, like any sportsperson, his father is honest, above all, and capable of making mistakes.

Real Madrid TV’s video assistant referee (VAR) for the final, Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, also expressed opposition to Real Madrid TV.

The 15-time European champions, however, later resisted participating in pre-game activities and held a press conference and training session.

Real Madrid made two critical statements as the drama progressed: “Real Madrid CF announces that our team has never considered withdrawing from tomorrow’s final.”

Out of respect for all the fans who plan to travel to Seville and all those who are already in the Andalusian capital, our club is aware of the regrettable and inappropriate statements made by the referees designated for this match, which were made 24 hours before the final.

Real Madrid believes that the best interests of football must prevail despite the hostility and animosity that the referees appointed for the final have shown once more today toward our club.

Real Madrid claimed that Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and completely discredited in a letter of complaint to the Spanish FA (RFEF) and the Spanish High Council for Sports in February.

De Burgos Bengoetxea stated in a news conference on Friday: “It’s not right what we’re going through, many of you, many of you, not just in professional football but also at the grassroots.”

Everyone should consider where we want to go, what we want from football and sport, and what we want.

The Spaniard has previously taken charge of Clasico encounters and also serves on the Uefa club and international competitions.

Have no doubt that we will need to start implementing much more drastic measures than we currently do, Fuertes added.

What is happening, we will not allow it to continue. You’ll hear from us soon.

Because we won’t continue to put up with what we are putting up, we are going to make history.

Hansi Flick, the Barcelona manager, later addressed the media with the same resounding message.

The German said, “It’s just a sport for me.” It’s just a game, they say. Only football, then. Protecting all parties involved in the game is our responsibility.

It’s unfortunate that something happened today, they say. Although there are some decisions made on the pitch that are emotional, we should be done with them after the game. There is a need to be something.

Real Madrid “had lost their head,” according to La Liga president Javier Tebas after the letter of complaint from February that came after Espanyol lost 1-0.