All eyes are on the Copa del Rey final amid a tense atmosphere between Spain’s two football giants. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has made a shocking statement, demanding that the Spanish Football Federation award the title directly to the Catalan club if Real Madrid decides not to attend the match.
Laporta’s remarks came in response to public threats by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez to withdraw from the match in protest against the appointment of referee González Fuertes to officiate the final. Real Madrid has deemed the referee’s previous statements as displaying “clear bias,” prompting the club to demand his immediate removal.
Laporta did not hesitate to intervene in the crisis, escalating the situation with fiery remarks and calling on the Spanish Federation to make an urgent decision in favor of Barcelona. He stated:
“If Real Madrid decides not to attend, Barcelona must be awarded the Copa without delay. This is fair, and I will not back down from this demand, even if I have to go to FIFA!”
His comments further fueled tensions, provoking an angry reaction from Pérez, who expressed deep dissatisfaction with Laporta’s stance, accusing him of inflaming the situation rather than helping to defuse it ahead of such a high-stakes match.
The Spanish Football Federation is now facing one of its most challenging moments, under heavy pressure from both clubs and amid growing concerns that the match may be canceled or postponed if the crisis is not resolved promptly.
As of now, no official decision has been issued by the Federation, while fans across Spain await developments in the coming hours that may determine the fate of this much-anticipated final.