Pressure Mounts Ahead of Clasico Showdown
Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, the referee appointed for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and Barcelona, broke down in tears during a press conference after revealing the personal toll of ongoing criticism by Real Madrid’s official TV channel.
With the high-stakes Clasico final scheduled for Saturday night at 21:00 BST in Seville, tensions have been exacerbated by a recent Real Madrid TV video scrutinizing de Burgos Bengoetxea’s professional record. The video highlighted what it claimed were unfavorable statistics for Real Madrid in games he has officiated, questioned his lack of experience in UEFA and FIFA tournaments, and accused him of previous errors in judgment.
Emotional Impact and Family Struggles
In a heartfelt statement, the 39-year-old referee shared the emotional burden the criticism has placed on his personal life, particularly affecting his family. “When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and he comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” he said, visibly emotional.
“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued. “It’s not right what we are going through, many colleagues, and not just in professional football, but also at grassroots level.”
Ongoing Criticism from Real Madrid
This is not the first time Real Madrid has publicly criticized refereeing in Spain. In February, the club submitted a formal complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and Spain’s High Council for Sports, alleging that Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited.”
The controversy followed a 1-0 defeat to Espanyol and intensified after other high-profile refereeing decisions, including the red card shown to Jude Bellingham in a match against Osasuna.
Officials Push Back
Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the final, also expressed deep concern over the attacks on referees. He suggested that officials across Spain are reaching a breaking point and could take collective action.
“Have no doubt that we are going to have to start taking much more serious measures than we are taking,” he warned. “We will not continue to allow what is happening. Soon, you will hear from us. We are going to make history, because we are not going to continue to bear what we are putting up with.”
Wider Implications for Spanish Football
La Liga president Javier Tebas weighed in earlier this year, saying that Real Madrid had “lost their head” with their relentless campaign against match officials. The RFEF also denounced what it called the “repulsive” abuse aimed at referees, particularly following incidents involving Jose Luis Munuera Montero and others.
As the football world turns its eyes to Saturday’s Copa del Rey final, the game now carries additional emotional and political weight. Beyond the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, it has become a focal point for the broader debate about referee treatment, media responsibility, and the protection of officials in elite football.
Category: Football News, Spanish Football
Tags: Copa del Rey 2025, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, Real Madrid TV, referee abuse, El Clasico final, Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Spanish FA, referee controversy, football ethics, VAR in Spain
