Only this time, Real Madrid is not at the center of controversy. They are preparing for their first Copa del Rey final, set against their arch-rival, Barcelona. The club had previously lodged a formal complaint with Spanish league referees against the treatment. They’re just complaining about bad officiating, saying that these bad calls are ruining their season. Real Madrid’s frustrations reached a head with firing after a 1-0 loss to Espanyol turning defeat. They wrote a letter to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in order to express their displeasure at referee Carlos Romero’s last-minute tackle on young player Kylian Mbappe.
As tensions escalated, LaLiga president Javier Tebas responded by accusing Real Madrid of “going crazy.” He waved away their concerns, saying that such fears are totally baseless. No comments yet This public feud has resulted in drastic changes to the club’s game day preparation. Real Madrid called off media obligations and an official training session as they put all their concentration on the final to come. The scrutiny for officiating has never been more intense. Real Madrid’s official media channel says the team has only lost 64% of the matches directed by Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, the central referee for the remaining clash set to take place.
A Formal Complaint and Escalating Frustrations
Following a highly-charged encounter with Espanyol, Real Madrid lodged an official complaint to the RFEF. They felt like the critical calls in-game all went the wrong way. The orchestra mainstage club to highlight one pivotal face Carlos Romero. They pleaded with VAR to show their teammate that he should have received a red card for his late challenge on Mbappe. This incident has been a central example to their efforts in having these discussions at the referees, accountability and fairness.
Frustration over the officiating has reached a fever pitch this year alone. This comes on the heels of similar cases, such as Jude Bellingham’s debatable red card against Osasuna in February. Spanish federation rejected Real’s appeal to overturn existing two-game domestic ban for Bellingham. This decision further escalated the bitter feud between the club and the refereeing body.
The Real Madrid’s displeasure was further increased by RFEF rebuke in February for the club that condemned the club’s remarks on officiating. This has led to concerns about the treatment of referees in Spanish football, prompting calls for action from officials themselves.
The Emotional Toll on Referees
Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea will referee the Copa del Rey final. He recently opened up about the emotional toll referees have to deal with from mounting criticism. He provided some emotional testimony in the press conference, explaining how a negative public perception of referees can affect their families as well.
“All I’m trying to do is educate my son, so he knows his father is honest, especially honest, but that also makes mistakes like any other person, and that’s really tough and I won’t wish that to anybody.”
De Burgos Bengoetxea stressed the need to protect those in office. He stressed that the abuse goes outside the pitch, affecting referees’ personal lives. He touched on the hardship his family has endured due to the false narrative that has plagued referees in the media.
“When your child goes to school and is told their father is a thief by other kids, that’s really tough.”
His remarks raise questions about the systemic issues behind the police treatment of referees in football. This problem extends beyond the world of professional leagues and affects grassroots levels as well.
Calls for Action and Future Directions
As the Copa del Rey final comes into view, Real Madrid and authorities alike are feeling tremendous pressure. On VAR duty is Spanish Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, who is one of Europe’s top officials. He was adamant that referees need to start showing red cards because of the constant threat from clubs and the press.
“We are going to start taking real action, we are not going to continue to allow what is happening.”
Real Madrid has recently signaled its own strong desire to remedy these issues in public. They did put out a joint statement pledging to release more details in the coming days. This piece of news points to some big changes coming that should address their complaints.
“In a few days you all will see.”
The club’s actions stand at the forefront of a expanding movement in football. Absent the fine, teams are now emboldened to challenge perceived injustices in officiating with impunity. And as they prepare to take on Barcelona in the final, pressure is mounting. So stay tuned, because it will be interesting to see how this all plays out on the field!
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