At that Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, it will go down as one of the most exciting Clásico finals in recent history, but now it will always be remembered as a day Barcelona beat Real Madrid to win a Copa del Rey title with a score of 3-2 in 2025.
Being the first Copa del Rey trophy for Hansi Flick’s youthful squad, their celebrations left no doubt regarding the significance of the victory.
However, beneath the fervour of their celebrations, a cloud of frustration lingered in the Barcelona camp.
During the celebrations on the pitch, where players embraced one another, the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) imposed a strict protocol, which did not allow for other family members (except parents or siblings) to join the celebration.
Many of their relatives stayed stuck in the stand due to this restriction.
The restrictions led to noticeable frustration with players exchanging their thoughts with the RFEF.
Pedri was seen on film arguing with an RFEF official regarding the limited accreditations on behalf of his family members.
As per Diario Sport, the frustration of the dressing room stemmed from two issues regarding guest restrictions and inconsistent access.
While players were denied access to, for example, their grandparents or family members, influencers and random guests apparently roamed freely.
There were even reports that Fermín López tried to ask for his family to be let in, but he was denied, adding to the parties frustration.
Furthermore, sources close to the team suggested that players were upset about YouTubers and VIPs being allowed back into the area while their closest supporters could not even access them.
They found it ironic how the players were inconvenienced, and were having the results of their accomplishments diminished by protocols.
With more finals to come, the incident raises concerns about the RFEF’s ability to prioritize feelings and values over its protocols.
For Barcelona, the trophy continues to be a success, but the celebrations deserved better, they explained.
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