Real Madrid denied they were considering boycotting Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, despite skipping Friday’s pregame news conference and training session in protest over comments made by the refereeing team.
The club were angered by Friday’s remarks by referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea and video assistant referee Pablo González Fuertes, in which they spoke about Madrid’s frequent criticism of officials in videos broadcast on Real Madrid TV.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti and midfielder Luka Modric had been due to speak to the media at La Cartuja stadium in Seville before the team’s last training session ahead of Saturday’s high-profile game against their clásico rivals. But the club announced they would not attend either event, or the official photo-call.
That led to reports that Madrid could boycott the final itself.
“Our team has never considered giving up playing tomorrow’s final,” Real Madrid said in a statement.
“Our club understands that the unfortunate and inappropriate statements made 24 hours before the final by the referees appointed for this match cannot taint a sporting event of global significance which will be watched by hundreds of millions of people. We also express our respect for all the fans who are planning to travel to Seville, and for all those already in the Andalusian capital.
“Real Madrid believes that the values of football must prevail, despite the hostility and animosity that has been demonstrated once again today against our club by these referees appointed for the final.”
A source had told ESPN that Madrid had requested a change in the refereeing team, although the Spanish football federation (RFEF) denied having received any such request, when contacted by ESPN.
Earlier in the evening Madrid called the statements from the referees “unacceptable” and alleged they were made in a “premediated manner.”
“Given the seriousness of what happened, Real Madrid hopes that those responsible at the RFEF and the refereeing establishment will proceed accordingly, adopting the corresponding measures in defense of the prestige of the institutions they represent,” the club added.
In response, RFEF president Rafael Louzan appealed for cooler heads to prevail.
“It’s a matter for [Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees], who have designated the referee and the VAR. So I won’t get into it,” he told reporters in Spanish.
“We’ve been working on this big final for a long time. There are millions of people around the world, and here in Sevilla, waiting to see the big final. I appeal for responsibility, so that everything turns out well. … I won’t make any comment on the matter, but I appeal to common sense. I’ve spoken to the people I need to speak to.”
Earlier, De Burgos Bengoetxea was visibly emotional in the referees’ news conference, as he discussed the impact of attacks on officials in his personal life.
“When your son goes to school and people tell him his father is a ‘thief’ it’s really messed up,” De Burgos said in Spanish. “All I do is try to educate my son, to tell him his father is honorable, that he’s just another sportsperson. I want my son to be proud. … We need everyone to reflect on where we want to go [as a society]. It’s very tough.”
“More than what is said [in the videos], it’s the consequences of what is said,” González Fuertes added, also speaking in Spanish.
“We’re seeing anonymous people on social media insulting people, and threatening people without any sort of control. Club social media managers are constantly attacking our profession, just for ‘likes.’ It gives rise to the belief that we’re not honest in our decisions.
“When you talk about ‘theft,’ with the frustration you generate in fans, who pays the price is the little boy or girl who picks up a whistle and has to referee a children’s game. It’s the consequence of putting a target on someone’s head.”
Real Madrid TV has frequently broadcast videos criticizing refereeing decisions before and after matches in recent years, including one focused on De Burgos — who has refereed two previous finals involving Madrid and Barcelona, the 2017 and 2023 Spanish Supercopas — this week, highlighting past decisions involving the club. Madrid sent a formal complaint on refereeing to the RFEF in February, after one, high-profile decision in their 1-0 defeat at Espanyol on February 1, in which defender Carlos Romero was not shown a red card for a bad challenge on Kylian Mbappé.
Club president Florentino Pérez has called for widespread reforms in Spain’s refereeing system, and RFEF president Rafael Louzan has claimed Pérez told him he’d like to see English officials working in Spain.
Madrid are set to face Barcelona in Saturday’s final in Seville under pressure, after being eliminated from the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage by Arsenal.
However they could still win a domestic double, as they go into the cup final just four points behind Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga table, with five games left, while Barcelona are chasing a treble.
