Ref In Tears As Real Madrid TV Targets Copa del Rey Final Officials

‎Copa del Rey final referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea became emotional on Friday while discussing the pressure officials have endured from Real Madrid TV this season.

‎Real Madrid will face rival Barcelona on Saturday in the Spanish Cup final in Seville.

‎This week, the club’s television channel released a video criticizing the referee, continuing a trend of targeting various officials throughout the season.

‎Los Blancos also published an open letter in February claiming Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited”.

‎”When a child of yours goes to school and kids are telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea told a news conference.

‎”What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued, becoming emotional.

‎”This is messed up… but the day I leave (the job), I want my son to be proud of what his father is and what refereeing is; it has given us many values.”

‎Wiping away tears, the 39-year-old called for deeper thought on the issue of referee abuse.

‎”It’s not right what we are going through, many colleagues, and not just in professional football, but also at grassroots level,” he added.

‎”Everyone should reflect about where we want to go, about what we want from sport and football.”

‎Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, the referee overseeing VAR for the final, indicated that officials might consider taking additional measures regarding Real Madrid TV’s broadcasts in the coming weeks.

‎”Not doubt that we are going to have to start taking much more serious measures than we are taking,” said Gonzalez Fuertes.

‎”We will not continue to allow what is happening. Soon, you will hear from us.

‎”We are going to make history because we are not going to continue to bear what we are putting up with.”