Will the Copa del Rey final go ahead after Real Madrid controversy?

Ahead of the first El Clasico final in the competition since 2014, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea gave an emotional press conference in which he called out Los Blancos for criticising him on their in-house tv channel.

The video, released on Thursday, shows what RMTV says is a series of errors made by De Burgos throughout his career.

De Burgos expressed his distress during the news conference, stating: “When a child arrives at school and his mates tell him that his father is a thief, it makes you sick.

“Nobody has the right to submit my colleagues to what they are dealing with.”

In the chaotic few hours that followed, Madrid are said to have had a requested for the official to be replaced for the final, whilst their participation in the game was thrown into doubt.

Yes, the final is still scheduled to take place at 9pm BST on Saturday night at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville after Real Madrid commented on rumours claiming they were considering boycotting the game.

A statement late on Friday night read: “In light of the rumors that have emerged in recent hours, Real Madrid CF announces that our team has never considered withdrawing from tomorrow’s final.

“Our club understands that the unfortunate and inappropriate statements made by the referees designated for this match, made 24 hours before the final, cannot taint a sporting event of global significance that will be watched by hundreds of millions of people, and out of respect for all the fans who are planning to travel to Seville, and all those who are already in the Andalusian capital.