Real Madrid is one of the most successful clubs in the world – but that doesn’t stop Los Blancos from repeatedly attracting attention for all the wrong reasons. This is also the case ahead of the Copa final.
On Saturday (10 p.m.), Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will face each other in the Copa del Rey final in Seville – a match that promises top-class football, enormous tension, and great entertainment. However, Real Madrid has now opened up a side battle that overshadows everything else.
The Royals disagree with the referee appointment and have harshly criticized referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea on their own TV channel. Among other things, Los Blancos cited Real and FC Barcelona’s win percentages in games refereed by the Basque official, implying that he favors the Catalans.
Furthermore, the 39-year-old was disrespected by pointing out that he had never officiated in the Champions League or a FIFA tournament and was therefore not qualified to referee such a top match – de Burgos Bengoetxea has been on the FIFA list of referees since 2018.
The whole thing did not leave de Burgos Bengoetxea unscathed: “When your child goes to school and other children tell him that his father is a ‘thief’ and he comes home crying, that’s harsh,” he said through tears at the press conference before the Copa final, adding: ‘I always tell my son that his father is honest and that he is allowed to make mistakes, just like any athlete.’
Real responds with boycott
And Madrid? They reacted angrily to the referee’s criticism and promptly boycotted all events leading up to the final. “Real Madrid has informed the RFEF that they will not attend the press conference or the official training session,” the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced. The traditional group photo with the opponent, Barcelona, and the joint dinner for the club presidents have also been canceled.
“Real Madrid considers today’s public statements by the referees appointed for tomorrow’s Copa del Rey final on April 26, 2025, to be unacceptable,” the club finally wrote in an official statement, saying that the referee and some of his colleagues had used a ‘threatening’ tone and calling on the association to take ‘the necessary measures’ due to ”the seriousness of the incident.” No details were given as to what these measures would be.
This is not the first time Real has publicly complained about referees—for months now, the club’s dealings with referees have repeatedly dominated the headlines. In February, the Blancos launched an all-out attack, sharply criticizing referee José Luis Munuera Montero. He was then confronted with hostility, insults, and even death threats, particularly on social media.
At the beginning of the year, Real demanded a “complete” reform of the refereeing system in a four-page letter, describing the existing system as “corrupt from the inside out.” To back up this statement, the club’s TV channel had repeatedly shown videos compiling referees’ mistakes.
This is not the first time that the Madrid club has responded with a boycott. In 2024, the club canceled its previously confirmed participation in the event in a huff because it was dissatisfied that Vini Jr. had not won the Ballon d’Or.
