Tensions ahead of the Copa del Rey final were heightened on Friday as Real Madrid accused the referees for Saturday’s match of “animosity and hostility” towards the club. The accusation followed an emotional press conference by the match referee, who publicly criticized Real Madrid for their comments on the refereeing staff during coverage on the club’s in-house TV channel.

In response to the referee’s remarks, Real Madrid announced they would be boycotting the pre-match activities scheduled for the day before the final against Barcelona. The club made it clear that they would not attend any events leading up to the match, citing the referee’s comments as the primary reason for their decision.

Real Madrid’s official statement called on the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to take immediate action against what they described as unfair treatment and bias from the officiating team, seeking to ensure a level playing field for the final.

The Copa del Rey final between the two Spanish football giants has been fraught with tension, and this latest development has added another layer of controversy, with the Spanish FA facing pressure to address the growing concerns.