Seville, Spain – Real Madrid refused to participate in any official Copa del Rey final-related activities on Friday, citing frustration over recent complaints made by match officials, the club confirmed to local media in Seville.
The controversy escalated after Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, the referee appointed for Saturday’s final against arch-rivals Barcelona, became emotional during a press conference, expressing the pressure he and his colleagues have faced due to criticism from Real Madrid TV throughout the season.
In protest, the Spanish champions boycotted several traditional pre-match events, including the press conference, open training session, official photo-call, and the customary presidents’ dinner.
A photo released by the Spanish Royal Football Federation (RFEF) on April 25, 2025, showed De Burgos Bengoetxea wiping away tears while addressing the media at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, one day before the final.
“Real Madrid informed the RFEF that they would not be taking part in the press conference or the official training session ahead of the final,” the federation stated.
Earlier this week, Real Madrid TV released another critical video targeting De Burgos Bengoetxea—a continuation of its season-long campaign against various referees. The club also published an open letter in February accusing the Spanish refereeing system of being “rigged” and “completely discredited.”
This is not the first time Real Madrid has staged a boycott. In October, the club skipped the Ballon d’Or ceremony in protest over Vinícius Júnior not being named best player in the world. At the time, the club stated, “Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”
During the press conference, De Burgos Bengoetxea spoke candidly about the personal toll of ongoing criticism, particularly its impact on his family.
“When your child comes home from school crying because classmates are calling his father a ‘thief,’ it’s deeply upsetting,” he said. “I teach my son that his father is honest—someone who, like any athlete, can make mistakes, but who lives with integrity.”
Fighting back tears, the 39-year-old referee called for a broader conversation about the abuse faced by match officials across all levels of the sport.
“This isn’t just about professional football. Grassr
This handout picture taken and released by the Spanish Royal Football Federation (RFEF) on April 25, 2025 shows Spanish referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoechea in tears during a press conference ahead of the King’s Cup final, at La Cartuja stadium in Seville ooots referees are going through the same thing. Everyone needs to reflect on the direction we’re heading in and what kind of values we want sport to promote,” he added.
Pablo González Fuertes, who will oversee VAR during the final, also weighed in, hinting at possible future action from officials.
“Make no mistake—we will soon have to take far more serious steps than we’ve taken so far,” González Fuertes warned. “We won’t allow this to continue. You will hear from us soon. We’re going to make history, because we will no longer endure what we’ve been putting up with.