Actual Madrid have issued an announcement confirming their participation on this weekend’s Copa del Rey ultimate in opposition to Barcelona, placing an finish to hypothesis that they could boycott the match.
The membership turned embroiled in controversy over the previous 24 hours after a dramatic fallout with the Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) in regards to the officers appointed for the ultimate in Seville.
Tensions flared when Actual Madrid formally objected to the number of Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea as referee and Pablo González Fuertes as VAR official.
Their considerations centred on Gonzalez Fuertes’ previous criticism of Actual Madrid TV’s referee-focused content material, which regularly scrutinises officiating selections intimately earlier than high-profile fixtures.
Bengoetxea, in the meantime, was lowered to tears in a current press convention because of the strain placed on by Los Blancos.
As tensions escalated, the membership known as off each their scheduled coaching session and press convention. In addition they demanded a last-minute change in officiating appointments.
New Official Assertion.
— Actual Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 25, 2025
Relevo reported that the membership was even contemplating pulling out of the ultimate completely until their considerations had been addressed.
In one other stage of membership’s protest, president Florentino Perez introduced he wouldn’t attend the customary pre-match dinner with Barcelona officers.
The standoff triggered fears that Actual Madrid may face disciplinary motion from the RFEF, together with the potential of being changed within the ultimate by Actual Sociedad.
Nevertheless, these considerations had been allayed late on when the membership formally confirmed their participation within the ultimate and denied any claims that they had threatened to withdraw.
The assertion stated: “In mild of the rumours which have arisen in the previous few hours, Actual Madrid C.F. communicates that our staff by no means thought-about refusing to play tomorrow’s ultimate.
“Our membership understands that the unlucky and inappropriate statements from the referees appointed for this match, made 24 hours earlier than the ultimate, can not tarnish a sporting occasion of world significance that will likely be watched by a whole lot of tens of millions of individuals and likewise out of respect additionally for all of the followers who’re planning to journey to Seville, and for all those that are already within the Andalusian capital.
“Actual Madrid understands that soccer’s values should prevail, regardless of the hostility and animosity that has in the present day as soon as once more been proven in opposition to our membership, by the referees appointed for the ultimate.”
