Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has accused Real Madrid of not respecting match officials before a heated Copa del Rey final showdown in Seville. Madrid were engulfed in an angry controversy when their TV channel aired a video attacking the refereeing history of Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and the 37-year-old wept in response and Spanish VAR official Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes warned that the pressure on referees was mounting.
Real Madrid subsequently called for the referees to be replaced but refuted reports they were considering a boycott, after cancelling a series of publicity commitments, including a press conference and photo op ahead of the game.
“It’s sport for me, it’s football,” Flick said, calling for respect for the referees. “We have to protect everybody that’s in the game. “It’s not fair play if we don’t take care of them.”
Flick insisted it would be all about relishing the final and said Barcelona had a youthful side also buzzing about the match.
Real Madrid’s season has seen frequent spats with referees and Spanish football authorities, even leading to speculation, earlier this year, that the team might leave La Liga — a suggestion rejected by league president Javier Tebas. The club also boycotted the 2024 Ballon d’Or show after Vinicius Junior was overlooked for the award.
