Explained: Why Real Madrid Reacted Angrily After Spanish Referee Broke Down in Tears.
Photo : Twitter
Real Madrid and Barcelona's Copa del Rey final has been plunged into a massive controversy following Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea's tearful press conference.
During the media interaction, the Spanish official revealed that criticism from Real Madrid's in-house television channel, RMTV, had an emotional impact on him and his family.
Bengoetxea shared that the intense scrutiny led to his young son being bullied at school, which led him to return home crying. "My son came home crying after classmates called me a thief," revealed the 39-year-old Bengoetxea.
Earlier, RMTV released a pre-match compilation of Bengoetxea's apparent refereeing mistakes in matches involving Madrid.
"When one of your children goes to school and there are kids who tell him that his dad is a thief and he comes back home crying, that's really f—ed up," he was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
"What I do in my case is try to educate my son to tell him that his father is honourable. Above all honourable, that he makes mistakes, like any sportsperson. And that's really f—ed up. I don't wish it on anyone. But the day I leave here, I want my son to be proud of what his dad was and what refereeing is.
The official's statements ignited a firestorm, with the Los Blancos deeming the press conference "unacceptable".
Thereafter, Madrid released a statement saying such comments showed a "clear and manifest animosity and hostility towards Real Madrid" Carlo Ancelotti and his staff also boycotted their own press conference.
Real Madrid Statement:
"Real Madrid CF considers the public statements made today by the referees designated for the Copa del Rey Final, scheduled to be held tomorrow, April 26, 2025, to be unacceptable.
"These protests, which have surprisingly focused attention on videos from a media outlet protected by freedom of expression, such as Real Madrid TV, deliberately carried out 24 hours earlier against one of the final's participants, demonstrate, once again, the clear and manifest animosity and hostility of these referees toward Real Madrid.
"Even more surprising statements, in a threatening tone, alluding to the referees' unity, were used to announce alleged measures or actions that fall far short of the principles of fairness, objectivity, and impartiality that should prevail just hours before a football event that captures the attention of hundreds of millions of people around the world.
"Given the seriousness of what happened, Real Madrid hopes that those responsible for the RFEF and the refereeing body will act accordingly, adopting the necessary measures to defend the prestige of the institutions they represent."
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