Madrid threatens not to play in the Copa del Rey final if the referees don't change.

BarcelonaThe run-up to the Copa del Rey final between Barça and Real Madrid, scheduled for this Saturday at 10 p.m. (TV3), is grotesque and bizarre. Real Madrid has decided not to attend the official pre-match press conference, nor the training session, nor the official photos, nor the pre-match gala dinner. In short, they have turned up at all the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) events scheduled before the final.

But things go further, and sources close to the team led by Florentino Pérez are even threatening to skip the final. At the moment, it's just a rumor, although it's gaining momentum as the hours pass. This would be an unprecedented suspension in a Copa del Rey final. The Whites want the referees for the final to be changed. Although, in a cynical act of throwing stones and hiding their hand, there is no official voice explicitly calling for it; rather, it is the Madrid president's entourage that is responsible for leaking it to the media.

The only official reaction from Real Madrid came around eight in the evening, with a statement attacking the final referees—De Burgos Bengoetxea on the pitch and González Fuertes in the VAR—because at midday, in their press conference, they criticized Madrid's pressure. The Whites consider what they said "unacceptable" and urge the RFEF to "take measures." They don't say what, but everyone is clear that they want to be relieved of their duties and two alternative referees appointed for this Saturday's final. "The deliberate statements made 24 hours earlier against one of the participants in the final demonstrate, once again, the clear and manifest animosity and hostility of these referees toward Real Madrid," the text adds.

"They are supposed to show up," they say in off the record At La Cartuja right now, clutching their heads. The RFEF is closing ranks and hasn't yet made a statement, but it isn't considering changing the referees: it would be a historic departure.

Referees in tears for the situation they're experiencing before the Copa del Rey final

Real Madrid's anger is monumental and was preceded by the referees' press conference this Friday. It's unusual for referees to speak publicly. It only happens on very special occasions, like the one before the Copa del Rey final. "When a child arrives at school and everyone else tells him his father is a thief, it's really tough. I try to raise my son to tell him that his father is honest, and that when he makes mistakes, he makes mistakes like any other athlete," de Burgos said through tears. His words were in response to a journalist's question about how he had received the new Real Madrid TV video criticizing him.

"When I leave here, from refereeing, I want my son to be proud. We shouldn't have to go through what we're going through, but it's not just among professionals; many families depend on it, especially in youth football. Everyone should reflect on this," added the main referee of the Copa del Rey final. Following these statements, several media outlets in the Spanish capital have reported that Real Madrid has pressured the RFEF to change the referees for the final, but have ruled out this happening because the Federation is unwilling to act according to what suits the club. Then came the snub from the entity chaired by Florentino Pérez.

Possible strike

González Fuertes has not mince words when it comes to defending the refereeing community: "There is more unity than ever among referees, possibly due to the situation we have around us. We will start to take measures, we will not continue to allow what is happening. We will soon see. They will include a strike, he replied that "he will have news soon"

In addition, González Fuertes has also been critical of the Real Madrid TV videos. community managers officers attacking the group with a like more. When a journalist talks about heist"The fans pay for their frustration with the boy or girl who referees a children's game," he considered. And he warned: "One day we will have a real problem, this will have consequences and we will put our hands on our heads and condemn it. We must all turn around this situation of belligerence."