Referee for Copa del Rey Final Breaks Down Over Attacks from Real Madrid TV
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Synopsis
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea expressed his emotional turmoil over the pressure from Real Madrid's TV network, highlighting the impact on his family. VAR official Pablo Gonzalez Fuentes criticized the network for inciting online attacks against officials, emphasizing the need for a return to respectful football.
Key Takeaways
- Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea faces pressure as Copa del Rey final referee.
- Real Madrid's RMTV criticized for influencing referees.
- Emotional impact on families discussed by de Burgos Bengoetxea.
- Pablo Gonzalez Fuentes condemns online campaigns against officials.
- Real Madrid dealing with significant injuries ahead of the match.
Madrid, April 25 (NationPress) The referee selected for the forthcoming Copa del Rey final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, became visibly emotional on Friday while addressing the immense pressure he experiences prior to the match.
He faced questions regarding a video published by Real Madrid's Club TV network, RMTV, which showcases his alleged errors in past matches against the team. This strategy is often utilized by RMTV to sway referees ahead of critical games.
When questioned about this latest video, de Burgos Bengoetxea struggled to hold back tears as he shared the impact it has had on him and his family, according to reports from Xinhua.
"When your son returns from school and other children have told him that his father is a thief, it's incredibly difficult," he remarked. "They have no right to put us through this, but it’s not only a matter between professionals; many families rely on this, and everyone should take a moment to think about their actions."
Pablo Gonzalez Fuentes, who will be serving as the VAR official for Saturday’s match, also condemned RMTV’s conduct. "They need to grasp the repercussions of these videos," he stated, explaining that they incite online campaigns against officials.
"We are witnessing community managers on official social media platforms attacking the community for just one more like. We observe actions from football players that imply we are dishonest. When a journalist mentions 'theft,' fans direct that frustration at the child who is set to referee a youth team. We must tackle these issues and revert to a healthier and cleaner style of football," he expressed.
In the meantime, Real Madrid is preparing for the match while facing significant injury concerns.
Their French international midfielder Eduardo Camavinga will be unavailable until next season due to a severe groin injury sustained in Wednesday's 1-0 victory against Getafe.
Camavinga had replaced David Alaba at the beginning of the second half after the Austrian sustained a muscle injury, but in the 87th minute, he could not continue and had to exit the pitch, even though Madrid had already made all its substitutions.
After the match, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti noted that both Alaba and Camavinga would likely struggle to recover in time for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona. However, tests conducted on Thursday morning revealed Camavinga's injury to be significantly worse than initially believed.
