Real Madrid hit back after Clasico referee's tears

Real Madrid have reacted angrily to a news conference where the referee for Saturday's Copa del Rey final broke down in tears at the pressure the club's TV channel has put officials under.

Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea will take charge of the 'Clasico final' between Los Blancos and rivals Barcelona in Seville on Saturday (21:00 BST kick-off).

But he has become the latest referee to be attacked on Real Madrid TV this season.

A club video pointed out the win percentages of Barca and Real when the Spaniard has taken charge of their games, the fact he has never refereed in the Champions League or Fifa tournaments, and supposed mistakes the 39-year-old has made.

An emotional De Burgos Bengoetxea said: "When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a 'thief' and comes home crying, it's totally messed up.

"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."

Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, who will be the video assistant referee (VAR) for the final, also spoke out against Real Madrid TV.

But the 15-time European champions later refused to take part in pre-match activities, boycotting an open training session and press conference.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said: "Real Madrid told the RFEF they will not take part in the press conference or the official training session looking forward to the [final]."

Real Madrid said they considered the "statements made by the referees 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," the club added in a statement.

"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."

Back in February, Real Madrid wrote a formal letter of complaint to the Spanish FA (RFEF) and Spain's High Council for Sports saying Spanish refereeing was "rigged" and "completely discredited".

In Friday's news conference, De Burgos Bengoetxea said: "It's not right what we are going through, many colleagues, and not just in professional football, but also at grassroots level.

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

The Spaniard, who also officiates in Uefa club and international competitions, has previously taken charge of Clasico encounters.

VAR Fuertes added: "Have no doubt that we are going to have to start taking much more serious measures than we are taking.

"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."

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick later echoed the call for action when speaking to the media.

"For me, it's only a sport," said the German. "It's only a game. It's only football. It is our responsibility to protect not only the players, but all the people involved in the game.

"It's not nice that happened today. Of course, sometimes on the pitch there are some decisions that are about emotion but after the match, we should be done with it. Something must be done."

After February's letter of complaint, which followed a 1-0 loss to Espanyol, La Liga president Javier Tebas said Real Madrid had "lost their head".

Later that month the RFEF condemned the "repulsive" abuse suffered by referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero after he sent off Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham against Osasuna.