Real Madrid Threatens Copa Del Rey Final Boycott – Know Why

Los Blancos Cancel Pre-Match Events and Consider Withdrawing From the Final, Here’s Why.

Real Madrid’s preparations for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona have descended into chaos. Reportedly, the club is considering pulling out of the match altogether due to concerns over refereeing impartiality. The dispute ignited after match referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea gave an emotional press conference.

Bengoetxea visibly broke down during a press conference ahead of the final. He was in tears while addressed a video that Real Madrid TV released. The clip which was published on Thursday, highlighted what the club alleged are a series of mistakes made by the referee throughout his officiating career. The referee said in the press conference:

Official Announcement.
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 25, 2025

“When a child arrives at school and his mates tell him that his father is a thief, it makes you sick. What I do is try to educate my son to tell him that his father is an honest man… It’s very hard, I don’t recommend it to anyone.”

Alongside him, VAR official Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes warned of looming collective action:

“We are going to start taking real action… We are going to make history and we are not going to continue to put up with what we are putting up with.”

Also Read: Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Two Crucial Real Madrid Players Injured Ahead of Copa del Rey Final

Madrid Pulls Out of Pre-Match Activities

Reportedly, in response, Real Madrid have cancelled all of their official pre-match commitments including press conferences, training sessions, and team photos. And they cited a complete lack of faith in the officiating team as the reason for all cancellations. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed the decision in a statement, noting:

“Real Madrid CF has informed the RFEF that it will not hold the press conference or the official training session prior to the final.”

According to El Chiringuito TV, the club’s legal team is preparing a statement demanding a public apology from the referees. Reportedly, internally, the club is also seriously considering the possibility of walking away from the final altogether. A club source told Reuters that the referee’s remarks represent “a clear conflict of interest.” However, no formal request for a change of officials has been made yet.

Also Read: Eduardo Camavinga Injury Update – Has Real Madrid Suffered A Blow Ahead Of The Copa Del Rey Finals?

Barcelona Defends Referees

On the other hand, when asked, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick and defender Ronald Araujo expressed support for the officials.

“You have to respect what they do,” said Araujo.

Flick added, “It’s not fair play not to look after them, it’s not showing respect.”

The match is set to kick-off in a little over 24 hours and the situation has become quite messy. With both clubs having an equal chance of grabbing the prestigious trophy, it’s a matter of time to see what other steps come from either of the sides – Real Madrid and RFEF.

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Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.