Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, a prominent Spanish football referee, has been thrust into the spotlight as the designated official for the 2025 Copa del Rey final, pitting rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona against each other in the iconic El Cl\u00e1sico. Known for his experience in La Liga and international matches, de Burgos Bengoetxea\u2019s appointment to this high-stakes match has sparked both anticipation and controversy. This article dives into who Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea is, his career, and why his role in the Copa del Rey final is significant.<\/p>\n
Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea began his refereeing journey in 2011, officiating matches in Spain\u2019s Segunda Divisi\u00f3n. His talent and professionalism earned him a promotion to La Liga, the country\u2019s top football league, in 2015. His first La Liga match as a referee was on August 23, 2015, between Levante and Celta Vigo, marking the start of a notable career in elite football.<\/p>\n
In 2017, de Burgos Bengoetxea officiated the first leg of the Supercopa de Espa\u00f1a between Barcelona and Real Madrid, a match remembered for the controversial expulsion of Cristiano Ronaldo. This early experience with El Cl\u00e1sico highlighted his ability to handle intense, high-pressure encounters. Since then, he has refereed multiple Cl\u00e1sico matches, including the 2022 Supercopa de Espa\u00f1a final and a 2023 La Liga clash, solidifying his reputation as a trusted official for major fixtures.<\/p>\n
In 2018, de Burgos Bengoetxea was added to the FIFA referees list, earning the status of a UEFA first-category referee. His first senior international match came on October 10, 2019, during a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Belarus and Estonia. While he has officiated in UEFA club and international competitions, he has yet to referee in the UEFA Champions League or FIFA tournaments, a point of criticism raised by some media outlets.<\/p>\n
The 2025 Copa del Rey final, held on April 26 at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, is a pivotal moment for de Burgos Bengoetxea. As the referee for this El Cl\u00e1sico showdown, he faces immense scrutiny, amplified by a controversial video released by Real Madrid TV. The video questioned his impartiality, citing a 64% win rate for Real Madrid compared to an 81% win rate for Barcelona in matches he has officiated, along with alleged errors. This led to significant backlash, with de Burgos Bengoetxea emotionally addressing the personal toll of such criticism during a pre-match press conference.<\/p>\n
In a tearful statement, de Burgos Bengoetxea shared the impact of the criticism on his family, particularly his son, who faced abuse at school with peers calling his father a \u201cthief.\u201d He emphasized his commitment to honesty and called for reflection on the treatment of referees, stating, \u201cWhat I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson.\u201d His remarks, alongside those of VAR official Pablo Gonz\u00e1lez Fuertes, sparked a heated response from Real Madrid, who labeled the referees\u2019 statements \u201cunacceptable\u201d and demanded action from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).<\/p>\n
Despite Real Madrid\u2019s desire to have de Burgos Bengoetxea replaced, the RFEF upheld his appointment, citing his experience and the impracticality of a last-minute change. His history of officiating 31 Barcelona matches (25 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses) and 25 Real Madrid matches (17 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses) underscores his familiarity with both teams, making him a logical choice for the final.<\/p>\n
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