According to reports from Marca, Real Madrid is planning to cancel their pre-final activities, including open training, a press conference, and the traditional club dinner, on the eve of the Copa del Rey final. This decision comes after their request to change the appointed referees, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, for Saturday`s final in Sevilla was denied. Real Madrid argues that recent statements made by Gonzalez Fuertes should prevent him from officiating the match.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rejected Real Madrid`s request for different officials. The appointed referees, in a pre-match press conference, addressed the abuse they`ve faced regarding their appointment, specifically mentioning coverage from Real Madrid`s official television channel, `Real Madrid TV`.
Gonzalez Fuertes spoke at length about the impact of critical commentary, particularly from official club channels:
More than what`s being said, it`s the consequences of what`s being said. We`re seeing anonymous people on social media insulting and threatening without any control. Official club social media managers are continually attacking our community, in addition to player actions and statements that give rise to the belief that we`re not being honest in our decisions. The consequences are that when you talk about theft and bad language, the frustration you generate in the fans is paid for by the little boy or girl who grabs a whistle and has to officiate a child`s game. It`s the consequence of putting the target on a teammate`s head.
He added, “It`s good and healthy for everyone to return to a healthier style of football.”
This season, Real Madrid has repeatedly voiced concerns about refereeing standards in Spain. In February, the club even issued an open letter alleging that Spanish refereeing was `rigged` and lacked credibility.
Real Madrid`s Official Stance
Los Blancos subsequently released an official statement reiterating their demand for the referee to be replaced before the final.
Real Madrid CF considers the public statements made today by the referees designated for the Copa del Rey Final, scheduled to be held tomorrow, April 26, 2025, to be unacceptable. These protests, which have surprisingly focused attention on videos from a media outlet protected by freedom of expression, such as Real Madrid TV, deliberately carried out 24 hours earlier against one of the final`s participants, demonstrate, once again, the clear and manifest animosity and hostility of these referees toward Real Madrid.
Even more surprising statements, in a threatening tone, alluding to the referees` unity, were used to announce alleged measures or actions that fall far short of the principles of fairness, objectivity, and impartiality that should prevail just hours before a football event that captures the attention of hundreds of millions of people around the world. Given the seriousness of what happened, Real Madrid hopes that those responsible for the RFEF and the refereeing body will act accordingly, adopting the necessary measures to defend the prestige of the institutions they represent.
Real Madrid argues that Gonzalez Fuertes` public comments demonstrate a lack of impartiality and necessitate a change in the refereeing team. This issue is the latest in a series of complaints made by the club throughout what has been a turbulent season regarding officiating.
History of Complaints
Earlier this season, in a February match against Espanyol which resulted in a 1-0 defeat, Real Madrid disputed several refereeing decisions. The club specifically cited an incident involving a foul on Kylian Mbappe, arguing it should have been a red card rather than the yellow issued after a VAR review. This match, where Romero scored the winning goal, contributed to Los Blancos falling behind in the competitive La Liga title race.
These incidents and others have fueled Real Madrid`s and Real Madrid TV`s narrative of unfair treatment from officials, leading to intense scrutiny of refereeing decisions throughout the season. The controversy has escalated just before the Copa del Rey final, putting the Spanish Federation in a difficult position.
Outlook
As of now, despite Real Madrid`s strong objections, there are no plans to change the match officials. It remains unclear if Real Madrid will take further steps, such as protesting their participation in the final, but it is certain that all refereeing decisions during the match will face intense examination. Although the RFEF has denied the initial request, Real Madrid`s recent statement indicates they are not prepared to drop the issue.
