Official: Real Madrid condemn referee comments showing ‘hostility’ and ‘animosity’, against club | OneFootball

With a little over 24 hours left before the Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid have issued an official statement condemning the comments made by referees Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea and Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes.

Tensions are at a high as Real Madrid are furious about the statements made by the two aforementioned officials, who will be involved in tomorrow’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.

As a result, the club have already decided to boycott all pre-match official events like the press conference, open training session, official dinner and photo sessions. In fact, the prospect of not playing the final is being considered as well.

The demand to change the referee has not been entertained by the RFEF, prompting the Merengues to now launch a public statement seeking action.

Real Madrid’s statement

The full statement from Real Madrid reads as follows, as the club highlight that the comments made by the match officials shows ‘animosity’ and ‘hostility’ towards them.

“Real Madrid considers inadmissible the public statements made today by the referees appointed for the Final of the Copa del Rey to be held tomorrow 26 April 2025,” it started.

“These statements, which have surprisingly focused the spotlight on the videos of a media outlet protected by freedom of expression, such as Realmadrid TV, made in a premeditated manner 24 hours earlier against one of the participants in the final, demonstrate, once again, a clear and manifest animosity and hostility of these referees against Real Madrid.”

Continuing, Real Madrid highlighted the ‘threatening’ tone in the comments, saying:

“Even more surprising statements, in a threatening tone, alluding to the unity of the referees, to announce supposed measures or actions that are far removed from the principles of fairness, objectivity and impartiality that should prevail just hours before a football event that focuses the attention of hundreds of millions of people around the world.”

Finally, Real Madrid concluded the statement by demanding the RFEF to take proper actions before the cup final tomorrow.

“In view of the seriousness of what has happened, Real Madrid hopes that those in charge of the RFEF and the refereeing profession will act accordingly, adopting the corresponding measures in defence of the prestige of the institutions they represent.”