Real Madrid’s self-proclaimed “señorio,” supposed gentlemanly and honourable conduct, was conspicuously absent during a tumultuous weekend for Spanish football, overshadowed by their Copa del Rey final defeat to rivals Barcelona.
Barcelona outplayed Los Blancos in a captivating Clasico final, securing a 3-2 victory in Seville to lift the cup, marking their third consecutive win against Madrid this season.
However, Madrid’s behaviour both before and after the match, which saw Antonio Rudiger, Jude Bellingham, and Lucas Vázquez all receive red cards in a flurry of indiscipline, marred the spectacle.
Rudiger and Bellingham had to be physically restrained as they confronted the referee, with the official noting in his report that Rudiger “threw an object” at him, potentially leading to a significant suspension.
This outburst follows months of Real Madrid’s official television channel consistently attacking Spanish referees. Their grievances escalated in February after a contentious decision, leading the club to publish a letter of complaint accusing the country’s officiating of being “rigged” and “completely discredited.”
This simmering tension boiled over on Friday during an emotional press conference held by the Copa del Rey final officials.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea tearfully spoke about the detrimental impact of Madrid’s accusations on his family life and the well-being of other referees.
VAR referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes hinted at potential “much more serious measures” by officials, suggesting a possible strike in the coming days.
In response, Real Madrid reacted sharply, withdrawing from all scheduled pre-final events, including press conferences, a traditional president’s dinner, and a photo opportunity. This mirrored their blanket boycott of the Ballon d’Or ceremony last October after learning Vinicius Junior would not win.
Spanish media even reported that Madrid considered boycotting the final altogether if the refereeing team wasn’t changed, a claim the club later denied, despite alleging “manifest hostility” from the officials.
This backdrop created an extremely challenging environment for De Burgos Bengoetxea and his colleagues to manage the final at La Cartuja stadium.
Red Cards and Unravelling Discipline
For the majority of the match, the referee managed to avoid further inflaming Real Madrid, even as Barcelona players grew frustrated with perceived leniency.
A penalty appeal for Barcelona when Ferran Torres was kicked in the box by Rudiger before extra time was waved away.
However, in stoppage time, a penalty was initially awarded to Barcelona when Raphinha went down under pressure, but this decision was overturned after a VAR review showed the Brazilian fell easily.
Despite seemingly having little to complain about regarding key decisions, Real Madrid’s frustrations continued, with Bellingham reportedly venting in the tunnel about perceived biased 50-50 calls.
After Jules Kounde scored the decisive goal for Barcelona in the 116th minute, Madrid’s discipline completely broke down.
Following a foul called against Mbappe, the already-substituted Rudiger threw an object at the referee (which missed) and was subsequently sent off, requiring intervention from several players and staff to restrain him. In a bizarre incident, a bag of ice he was holding burst in his hands.
Vazquez, also substituted, was then dismissed for entering the pitch to protest, and Bellingham received a red card after the final whistle.
Even Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his unawareness of Bellingham’s dismissal, acknowledging his team’s loss of control, fueled by the club’s rhetoric.
This season has seen Real Madrid generate more controversy off the field than success on it, with a heavy Champions League defeat to Arsenal and losses to Barcelona in both the Spanish Super Cup and now the Copa del Rey finals leaving them without major silverware.
While La Liga remains a possibility, trailing Barcelona by four points with another Clasico looming, they have yet to overcome their rivals.
Barcelona’s delighted young winger Lamine Yamal, in stark contrast to Madrid’s rage, quipped that Madrid “can’t handle us this year.”
With potential lengthy bans looming and Rüdiger’s explosive reaction adding further fuel to the fire, the aftermath of this Clasico is likely to be far from quiet.
