Crying referees, build-up boycott: What is going on at Real Madrid before Copa del Rey final against Barcelona – Explained

Tensions flared before the Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and Barcelona as referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, in an unusual press conference, tearfully addressed pressure stemming from Real Madrid TV’s criticism. VAR official Pablo Gonzalez Fuentes echoed concerns about the impact on referees. Real Madrid retaliated by skipping pre-match events and issuing a statement condemning the officials’ ‘animosity’.