All eyes are on the man in the middle: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea as Real Madrid faces Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville.
De Burgos Bengoetxea should be preparing for a career-defining moment. Instead, he finds himself at the center of a heated controversy, sparked by an unexpected video from Real Madrid TV.
Who Is Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea?
Born and raised in Bilbao, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea is an experienced referee in Spanish football with a career spanning over a decade at the top level.
He began officiating in Spain’s Segunda División in 2011 and was promoted to La Liga in 2015, making his debut in a match between Levante and Celta Vigo.
Since then he has officiated numerous high-profile games, including three previous El Clásico encounters: the first leg of the 2017 Spanish Super Cup, the 2023 Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia, and a La Liga match in Barcelona in 2023.
In 2018, De Burgos Bengoetxea was added to the FIFA referees list, and he currently holds a UEFA first-category ranking. He officiated his first senior international match during UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying between Belarus and Estonia.
Known for his communicative style on the pitch, he often explains his decisions to players and coaches. Off the field, De Burgos Bengoetxea leads a different life as a dental technician.
Despite his accomplishments, De Burgos Bengoetxea’s career has not been without controversy, especailly when it comes to Real Madrid. His appointment for the Copa del Rey final has reignited tensions, leading to a public clash that has overshadowed the buildup to the match.
Real Madrid TV’s “Fail Comp”
The drama began when Real Madrid TV released a video few days ago targeting De Burgos Bengoetxea’s suitability for the final.
It also revisited specific incidents the club has contested over the years.
A History of Grievances
Real Madrid’s dissatisfaction with De Burgos Bengoetxea dates back to the first leg of the 2017 Spanish Super Cup at the Camp Nou.
During that game, De Burgos Bengoetxea failed to award a potential penalty for a challenge by Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti on Cristiano Ronaldo.
After determining Ronaldo had faked a fall, the referee showed him a second yellow card—Ronaldo had already been booked for removing his shirt during a goal celebration. Ronaldo’s reaction, a light shove on De Burgos Bengoetxea, resulted in a five-match ban, an incident that Real Madrid has long held against the referee.
Since then, Real Madrid has frequently criticized De Burgos Bengoetxea’s decisions.
Recent complaints include his role as VAR referee in a Madrid derby this season, where he called a penalty on Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni for stamping on Atlético Madrid’s Rodrigo de Paul after the ball had passed.
They also pointed to a missed penalty call on Fran García for a slap during a match against Espanyol.
Last season, Real Madrid highlighted several decisions they deemed incorrect: two contested penalties on Vinícius Jr. and Brahim Díaz in a match against Getafe, another on Vinícius Jr. in a game against Sevilla, and two disallowed goals by Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde in separate matches.
Adding to their grievances, historical data shows Real Madrid has fared worse than Barcelona under De Burgos Bengoetxea’s officiating. The Whites have won 17 of 25 matches with him as referee, a 68% win rate—while Barcelona has a higher 81% win rate.
An Emotional Press Conference
The controversy took a deeply personal turn during a press conference on April 25, 2025, when De Burgos Bengoetxea broke down in tears, revealing the toll Real Madrid’s criticism had taken on his family.
He shared that his son had been bullied at school, with classmates calling his father a “thief” due to the narrative pushed by Real Madrid TV.
“When your son goes to school and there are children who tell him that his father is a thief and he comes home crying, that’s really tough,” De Burgos Bengoetxea said, his voice breaking.
VAR official Pablo González Fuertes, who will assist in the final, also spoke, warning of potential action from referees. “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,” Fuertes stated.
Real Madrid’s Response
Real Madrid responded decisively, canceling all pre-match activities on April 25, including their press conference, open training session, and the official club dinner, in protest of the refereeing situation.
The RFEF confirmed Real Madrid’s withdrawal from pre-match obligations but clarified that no official request for a referee change was made.
On the same day, Real Madrid issued a statement calling the referees’ comments “unacceptable” and accusing them of showing “clear and manifest animosity” toward the club.
The statement criticized the referees for focusing on Real Madrid TV’s videos, which the club defended as protected by freedom of expression.
Despite rumors of a potential boycott, Real Madrid issued a second statement confirming their participation, stating, “Real Madrid communicates that our team has never considered giving up playing tomorrow’s final”.
As the Copa del Rey final kicks off today, De Burgos Bengoetxea will take the field under immense scrutiny.
His experience, including his previous El Clásico matches suggests he is capable of handling the pressure but the off-field drama has cast a shadow over what should be a celebration of football.
For now, fans can only hope that the focus returns to the pitch, where two of the sport’s greatest rivals will battle for glory.
