WATCH: Spanish Referee breaks down in front of media after being bullied by Real Madrid ahead of Copa Del Rey finals

Real Madrid and Barcelona stand as two of the fiercest football rivals in the history of the sport. The on-field heat of the fixture is felt not just by the players but by everyone involved in the match. Refereeing is one of the most important components of football, and it's undeniable that the referees' job is hectic. Refereeing in a high-voltage clash comes with its own set of repercussions. A Referee cannot be in the good books of both teams, as one side may always feel a sense of betrayal or being wronged.

Real Madrid has stirred up yet another controversy just ahead of the Copa Del Rey finals. This time, the controversy surrounds a referee who will be involved in the much-awaited finals

The Referee revealed being bullied

The veteran referee tried his best to hold his tears in front of the camera and explained what his family had been through during the course of this event.

🎙️ "Lo que hago es intentar educar a mi hijo para decirle que es honrado, pero que se equivoca como una persona más".

➡️ "Quiero que mi hijo esté orgulloso de lo que es su padre".

🗣️ Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea, árbitro principal.#CopaDelReyMAPFRE | #LaCopaMola🏆 pic.twitter.com/GzxSTCsvl9

— RFEF (@rfef) April 25, 2025

One of the referees of the Copa Del Rey finals, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, revealed that his son faced extreme bullying in his school after Real Madrid TV had broadcast a controversial video. The video was targeted at the referee and asserted that Real Madrid won fewer matches whenever he officiated a game. As soon as the video was uploaded, it went viral on the internet, and the referee's son was victimised by tormenting bullying. The referee broke down in front of media personnel and emotionally revealed that he was called a thief by his child's friends.

"When your child goes to school and is told his father is a 'thief' and comes home crying, it's really tough." He said.

"What I'm doing is trying to educate my son, to tell him that his father is honest, that he makes mistakes like any other athlete. It's a real pain, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The day I leave here, I want my son to be proud of what his father was and what refereeing is, which has given us so many values." He added.

Real Madrid TV had recently pointed out officiating errors by De Burgos Bengoetxea in matches involving the club, noting that Real Madrid has a 64% win rate when he officiates. In contrast, Barcelona enjoys a win rate of 81% with him as the referee. Madrid has expressed concerns regarding a recurring trend of unfavourable results when he officiates their matches.