Real Madrid Consider Boycotting Final Over Call for Apology

Ahead of their Copa del Rey final match against Barcelona on Saturday, 26 April, Real Madrid’s official channel, RMTV, released a video featuring referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea. At 39 years old, he’s one of the most seasoned referees in Spanish football, having officiated numerous El Clásico matches. However, Real Madrid fans are expressing skepticism about his appointment for this crucial game, particularly after RMTV shared a three-and-a-half-minute compilation of perceived officiating injustices in previous matches involving the club.

According to a report by Marca, this isn’t the first time the Spanish giants have scrutinized referees leading up to important fixtures. The video draws attention to the referee’s record: Real Madrid has only a 64% win rate with De Burgos in charge, while Barcelona has an impressive 81%.

This statistic raises eyebrows, especially considering Madrid has won only two of the last five games with him officiating. Even more notable is the fact that, despite being an international referee since 2018, UEFA has never assigned him to a Champions League match, nor has FIFA called upon him for any of its tournaments. Yet in Spain, this will be his third final between Real Madrid and Barcelona, indicating a level of recognition domestically that he lacks on the international stage.

Fans on social media have reacted strongly, interpreting this video as an intimidation tactic. One commenter expressed outrage, stating, “Blaming the ref before the game is outrageous work,” while another suggested it was less about blame and more about influencing the referee’s decisions, arguing it should be banned. A third fan pointed out, “It’s insane how they’re allowed to get away with this. I don’t know of any other club in any sport in the world that consistently tries to intimidate and influence referees through the media like Madrid does.”

Real Madrid’s recent actions have only added to the belief that the club feels there’s a bias against them from Spanish referees. Earlier in 2025, they made a strong statement criticizing La Liga referees, claiming that the officials and the video assistant referees (VAR) were “rigged” and “completely discredited.” This kind of public critique certainly raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about fairness in officiating. In response, La Liga president Javier Tebas rebuffed these claims, suggesting that Madrid has created a narrative of victimhood. He stated, “The issue has been blown out of proportion; they have lost their head. Football doesn’t revolve around Real Madrid.”