Spanish football is engulfed in controversy only hours before the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid at La Cartuja.
The situation has escalated quickly after Los Blancos took unprecedented steps to protest the referees appointed to the match, and their demands are now seemingly rejected.
Los Galacticos are agitated because they feel referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea behaved in a compromising manner when he showed a level of emotion in his pre-match press conference.
Real Madrid also furthered concerns based on comments by the VAR official González Fuertes, who referred to the episodes displayed in referee analysis segments by Real Madrid TV.
These issues led to Madrid formally requesting to change referee appointments at the last minute, arguing the appointments pose a risk to the integrity of the match.
In a rare move, Real Madrid have called off their last press conference, cancelled their pre-match team training scheduled for the stadium, and will not be attending the traditional RFEF gala dinner at the end of the final, which says it all.
But the Spanish Federation, according to COPE, has taken a firm stand, and will seemingly not be backing down, nor altering the officiating team ahead of Saturday’s Clásico.
This develops a perfect storm into an already unique occasion, making for a potentially explosive affair as any refereeing decisions are going to be scrutinized like never before.
Barcelona will head into the final with some sort of psychological advantage after winning their last two games against Real Madrid this season, while Madrid will be looking for some sort of redemption.
With neither club showing signs of stepping down and with the potential for both teams to become embroiled in the heated debate surrounding the officiating at this final, there is more than just the trophy at stake for both clubs in what may become a defining event in the ongoing delicate relations between Spanish club football and the refereeing authorities.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
