Real Madrid deny they regarded as Copa del Rey ultimate boycott over referee

Real Madrid have denied that they ever regarded as refusing to play the Copa del Rey ultimate in opposition to Barcelona once they boycotted the pre-match actions, prompting uncertainty that the sport would move forward. A commentary from Madrid in spite of everything showed that they might play after 10pm on Friday evening, simply 24 hours earlier than kick-off.

A prior commentary from Madrid had demanded that the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) take motion after feedback made by way of the referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea within the buildup to the sport. That got here after Madrid had refused to turn up for the pre-match press convention, coaching consultation or the managers’ photocall on the Cartuja Stadium in Seville. Amid stories from media as regards to the membership that they have been considering refusing to play the tournament, Madrid in spite of everything showed their participation overdue on Friday evening.

“Faced by the rumours that have emerged in the last few hours, Real Madrid wish to communicate that our team has never proposed renouncing playing in tomorrow’s final,” the commentary stated. “Our club understands that the unfortunate and inappropriate declarations made by the referees assigned to this game, made 24 hours before the final, cannot stain a sporting event of global significance which millions of people will watch.”

The commentary stated that Madrid have been appearing “out of respect to all those fans who have travelled to Seville and those that are already in the Andalucían capital,” concluding that “the values of football should prevail, despite the hostility and animosity of that has today once again been made clear against our club, by the referees assigned to the final.”

The commentary in spite of everything dropped at an finish an extended night of uncertainty. Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modric have been scheduled to talk to the media at 7.15pm native time in Seville however, with the media looking forward to them, they didn’t display.

There was once no announcement on the time and Madrid did indirectly give an explanation for the verdict later. Nor did they admit to asking the RFEF to take away De Burgos Bengoetxea or the VAR reputable Pablo González Fuertes. But a commentary launched an hour later described the referees’ remarks as “premeditated”, the use of a “threatening tone” and demonstrating a “manifest hostility” in opposition to Real Madrid.

The membership accused the referees of “announcing supposed actions which are far from the principles of equality, objectivity and impartiality which should prevail a few hours before a footballing event followed by millions of people around the world”.

Had Madrid now not proven up, they might have confronted a year-long ban from the contest and a effective of between €3,000 and €12,000. Eleven years they’ve waited for a clasico ultimate and when finally it got here, it was once the referee within the highlight when it fell upon Seville.

Madrid have been angered by way of a pre-match press convention wherein De Burgos Bengoetxea and González Fuertes talked in regards to the membership’s repeated complaint of referees on their TV channel. Pushed centre level and uncovered, made protagonists of the preview, each males looked as if it would have include a message to ship 24 hours earlier than the sport. Asked in regards to the drive they’re underneath, particularly from Real Madrid TV, González Fuertes warned of the have an effect on on younger officers, and stated that more potent movements needed to be taken.

De Burgos Bengoetxea in the meantime was once as regards to tears as he recounted the have an effect on it has on his kids. “When a child goes to school and people tell him his father is a thief it’s messed up,” the reputable stated, his voice breaking. “All I can do is educate my son so that he knows that his father is honourable, show him what refereeing is, and for everyone to reflect on where we want to go; I would like you all to know, it is very hard.”

González Fuertes stated stated: “More than what is said [in the videos], it’s the consequences of what is said. We see anonymous people on social media insulting and threatening referees without any control, those responsible for clubs’ social media continuously attacking us. The consequences of talking about robberies and using bad words, that frustration you create among fans, is something that the boys and girls who pick up a whistle to do a kids’ game end up paying for. That is the consequence of putting a target on a colleague’s head. We’re not going to allow it to keep happening.”

That was once the primary press convention of the day. Barcelona’s press meetings have been at 5.15pm, right through which Hansi Flick had stated: “We need the referees.” Madrid have been because of seem two hours later. But, as that they had completed with the Ballon d’Or rite in October, they didn’t display up, cancelling the entirety. There can be no press convention, no coaching consultation and no handshake between the coaches, accompanied by way of the trophy. The president, Florentino Pérez, had already determined to not attend any of the institutional occasions.

The RFEF therefore showed that Madrid had informed them that they wouldn’t be collaborating in any pre-match actions.

Madrid sought after the Federation to take away De Burgos Bengoetxea from refereeing tasks, taking into account his place untenable following the clicking convention and what they noticed as a war of pursuits. But they did indirectly or publicly call for for that to occur and the primary in their two next statements stopped wanting repeating that risk brazenly. Instead, their place have been expressed during the media as regards to the membership hierarchy, which additionally leaked the opportunity of them now not turning up for the tournament.

“Real Madrid CF considers the public statements made today by the referees appointed for the Copa del Rey final to be unacceptable,” the membership stated in a commentary. “These remarks made in a premeditated manner, 24 hours before [kick-off and] against one of the participants in the final demonstrate, once again, a clear and manifest animosity and hostility against Real Madrid.

“Given the seriousness of what happened, Real Madrid expects the RFEF and the refereeing establishment to act accordingly, adopting the relevant measures in defence of the institutions that they represent.”

The RFEF insisted that it could now not alternate the referees and that it anticipated the sport to move forward however conversations endured and the look ahead to affirmation went on into the night till Madrid introduced that that they had by no means pondered boycotting. Ancelotti was once now not within the press room at La Cartuja at 7.15pm native time, however his group might be out at the pitch at 10pm on Saturday evening.