Real Madrid to Boycott Copa Del Rey Final Against Barcelona? Los Blancos Demand Referee Change
ES 
EN Real Madrid vs Barcelona, the 2024-25 season’s third El Clásico was set with the Copa Del Rey title on the line. The match is scheduled to be played at Estadio de La Cartuja in Sevilla on April 26. Fans around the globe were ready for the big battle until Real Madrid threatened to pull the plug. Reason? The Whites need the referees to be changed.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side front office requested the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to change the refereeing team for the Copa del Rey final. The reasons put forward were a direct reaction to the referee’s press conference, and said that Bengoetxea, the official for the game, could no longer be expected to be neutral. However, the RFEF denied the short-notice demand. The acceptance could have been seen as a club interfering with the refereeing committee. Real Madrid came up with their own response.
Los Blancos have cancelled their public pre-match training session at Estadio de La Cartuja and have done the same for their press conference on Saturday afternoon. Although the team is expected to participate in the game, the current ‘hot’ situation might flip that consideration completely.
Complete Storyline Behind Real Madrid’s Decision to Boycott
On Thursday, in the build-up for the match, RMTV, Madrid’s affiliate television channel, published a lengthy video. In the video, the referee for the match, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, was heavily criticised. With few videos, claims were made that the 39-year-old official gave a decision favouring the Catalan side and hinted at potential corruption from Bengoetxea.
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The umpire in the discussion later clarified his views in a separate press conference, which turned emotional as he could not hold back tears, putting forward his points. De Burgos Bengoetxea had spoken about the effect that criticism from Real Madrid’s television channel was having on his family life.
“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. 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,”
“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,” the referee said. The press conference fueled a new angle as Real Madrid retaliated with their actions. First, asking for the removal of the official and after getting a negative response to it, the team decided to boycott the pre-game rituals.
We will have to wait for the final verdict on the participation. Still, if Real Madrid decides to sit out, Barcelona will be crowned champions.
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