Next Saturday, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will face off in the Copa del Rey final. For this crucial match, Eduardo Iturralde has not hidden his dismay regarding the referee appointments.
With just days to go before the much-anticipated Clásico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, former Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde hasn’t hesitated to voice his doubts about the choices made by the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA). His criticism focuses particularly on the decision to appoint González Fuertes as the VAR official for the final. A statement that has not gone unnoticed and sheds light on the recurring controversies surrounding Spanish officiating.
“He only has 3 matches left”
For this high-intensity encounter, the CTA has appointed De Burgos Bengoetxea as the main referee on the pitch, with González Fuertes overseeing the VAR room. Although these appointments may seem trivial, they have caused quite a stir. During his appearance on the programme El Larguero, Iturralde gave a blunt assessment of the selections. According to him, González Fuertes’ appointment is anything but coincidental: “They chose him because if there’s a huge scandal and it involved a referee with 7 or 8 years left in his career, they’d have ruined him. This one only has 3 matches left…”
These harsh words reflect growing discontent with the selected referees, who are considered particularly controversial. While De Burgos Bengoetxea appears to be in good shape and is known for allowing the game to flow, González Fuertes is far from popular at the elite level. “He’s not one of my favourite referees,” Iturralde adds, before acknowledging that although he performed well last year, his role in this Clásico is a source of nervousness.
This statement quickly set social media ablaze, once again highlighting the internal tensions within the CTA. For many, these controversies are a sign of a lack of discipline and professionalism in Spanish refereeing. According to Iturralde, these repeated, “blatant” mistakes harm not only the quality of the matches but also the overall prestige of the competition.
Real Madrid remain cautious
Amidst this media storm, Real Madrid, long used to officiating controversies, hopes that the officials’ decisions will remain as neutral as possible. Aware that they have no control over the appointments, the Merengue club prefers to focus on the game itself and avoid any external influence that could disrupt the flow of the Clásico. “We simply want the referees to be impartial and to understand the context of such an important match,” a club representative reportedly said.
Nevertheless, memories of past controversies involving De Burgos Bengoetxea and González Fuertes still linger in the minds of players and supporters. Despite this, manager Carlo Ancelotti remains philosophical, stating that the best response will come on the pitch. With absences on the Catalan side and a tactical shift expected, the Madrid side intend to do everything they can to shine.
A long-awaited change within the CTA
In Spain, officiating is in turmoil. For months, decisions by the men in black have been highly controversial. In the face of numerous scandals, the urgent need to thoroughly reform Spanish refereeing has become clear—something Florentino Pérez strongly advocates. After years marked by repeated mistakes, it is now evident that a complete overhaul is required to restore the image of La Liga and domestic competitions. Changes within the CTA are reportedly being considered, although final decisions remain uncertain.
Spanish refereeing is at a crossroads. To regain credibility and prestige, drastic measures must be taken. Should De Burgos Bengoetxea and González Fuertes deliver another catastrophic performance in Saturday’s Clásico, the pressure on the CTA will only intensify. Wait and see…
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