Barcelona v Real Madrid: Copa del Rey final
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'Faced by rumours in the last few hours, we wish to communicate our team has never proposed renouncing playing the final,' Real Madrid said in a statement released late last night before this high-stakes encounter against Barcelona. 'Our club understands that the unfortunate and inappropriate declarations made by the referees assigned to this game, 24 hours before the final, cannot stain a sporting event of global significance.'
Hardly a serene buildup, then, but here we are. Real's confirmation that they would grace us with their presence capped a day of uncertainty on Friday after the appointed referee, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, spoke of repeated criticism aimed at him on Real Madrid's TV channel and by the club's fans. 'When a child goes to school and people tell him his father is a thief, it's messed up,' he said in a press conference.
Real Madrid consequently cancelled the pre-match pleasantries in protest, but we do have a game on, and it promises to be extra-spicy. Sid Lowe has the full story of that contentious buildup, and kick-off will be coming up at 9pm UK time.
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