After their appeal to replace the match officials was denied, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid cancelled all of their pre-match activities. As a result, they were reportedly considering cancelling their Copa del Rey final matchup with Barcelona on Saturday. However, La Blaugrana forfeited their semi-final once, in 2000.
To further escalate the situation, Real Madrid TV published a video on Thursday featuring the designated referee, Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea, and all of his previous rulings that have fined the Spanish capital’s trophy-chasing team.
There is a growing likelihood that Jude Bellingham and company will face Hansi Flick’s team at the Esatdio Olimpico de Sevilla, according to The Athletic. After discussing the effects on his family, Bengoetxea started to show signs of emotion.
Once, Barcelona lost the Copa del Rey semifinal.
Following the bizarre occurrences, Barca made a statement that will stick in your memory.
Barcelona asked the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) if the climax could be rescheduled for a number of reasons back in 2000 when Los Blancos’ cross-city rivals, Atletico Madrid, were their opponents for the semi-final.
After losing the first leg, the Spanish—and European, for that matter—behemoths were behind 3-0 and realised that defeat was not in the cards. Until one of the most contentious incidents in Spanish football history came to light.
Barcelona had requested a postponement in advance after finding out they would be missing several important players, including Patrick Kluivert, Luis Figo, and Rivaldo. Due to a planned FIFA international break, players who were unavailable were either recovering from an injury or serving abroad.
The competition’s record winners went into a tailspin after the RFEF rejected their proposal, which was spearheaded at the time by Angel Maria Villar. Jose Luis Nunez, the president of Barcelona, ordered his team to skip games.
Before the team’s captain spoke with the referees and the Atleti captain, a number of well-known faces, including Pep Guardiola, Carles Puyol, and Xavi Hernandez, as well as a few lesser-known players and two goalkeepers, were visible standing on the side of the field. View the video below:
The club made a strong statement after producing an incredible spectacle that will stand the test of time:
In addition to stating that it cannot support a federative decision that undermines, devalues, and discredits an official competition, FC Barcelona cannot permit its players to play in the game because it views the call-up as void and believes it violates the club’s sporting, social, and financial rights.
Furthermore, Barcelona said that playing in such unjust circumstances would be disrespectful to their rivals, Atleti, the spectators, members, sponsors, and—most dramatically—King Juan Carlos I of Spain.
“Second place, second place” was chanted by the Camp Nou supporters in attendance, who supported their team’s choice, to their opponents in the semi-final. In the 2000 Copa del Rey, Espanyol defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1, proving that.
xz
