The nine hours of tension and calls between Madrid and Louzán to save the Cup final: "How are we going to change a referee?"

"How can the King come to Seville and Real Madrid not show up for a Cup final?" The Andalusian afternoon had it all, with spotlights and tension spread across various parts of the city. On one hand, La Cartuja Stadium, the venue for the pre-match preview of a derby that will decisively affect the short-term future of Spanish football and the Real Madrid dugout. Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and Pablo González Fuertes appeared in its corridors at midday, their words creating a butterfly effect that provoked a historic reaction from Real Madrid, many calls, many nerves, and, nine hours later, the final decision: Real Madrid, despite a drastic outburst that led them to not show up for the pre-match preview, announced that they would play in the final.

The tears of De Burgos, the match's main referee, mentioning his son and how they called him "a thief father" went around the country, although it was the words of González Fuertes, hinting at a strike and assuring that they had to take "serious measures" in response to the attacks by Real Madrid Television, that poured fuel on the fire of the Cup final.

Madrid's reaction was as unexpected as it was forceful. "We're canceling everything." At a quarter to seven in the evening, half an hour before Carlo Ancelotti 's eagerly awaited press conference, the message was blasting across every cell phone in the press room at La Cartuja. Madrid wasn't attending the pre-final preview. Unheard of.

"He has never considered resigning"

At the time, Rafael Louzán , president of the Federation, was trying to calm the Whites' board of directors in several phone calls with José Ángel Sánchez , Madrid's general manager. The Whites didn't understand the "show ," as they called it, of the press conference, while the RFEF, which acknowledged González Fuertes's lack of tact in his words, didn't believe the threats about not appearing in the final. They considered it an excessive response.

At that moment, we entered the realm of uncertainty. The voices from the NH Collection hotel, Real Madrid's home in Seville, were contradictory. Some were advocating for not playing and making a final statement, while others were hesitant due to the number of fans who had already traveled to the city.

After a couple of hours of internal debate, the final statement landed on Madrid's website at 10:15 PM: "The club has never considered giving up playing in the final." Said with many doubts, but done.

The RFEF expected a responsible gesture from Real Madrid, while acknowledging that the controversy could have been avoided. They believe González Fuertes didn't consider the significance of his words, which Real Madrid interpreted "in a threatening tone" and which kept not only the Federation, but also the Andalusian Regional Government, Seville City Council, and sponsors on tenterhooks for hours. "A whole year of work," admitted federation sources. "It was very ill-timed," they assert. The demonstration of transparency that the RFEF wants to maintain this time became a problem.

"The bandage before the wound"

The RFEF is aware that Real Madrid is very sensitive about referees because of the constant criticism, and not just on its television. "If it were up to them, they'd replace them all," some warn. Louzán's plan since becoming president is to immediately create a committee with Real Madrid representatives. Looking ahead to next season, "an active participation body" will be formed to put an end to the controversies that jeopardize the competition. "If things continue like this, we're very close to football being stopped," the Federation warns.

Therefore, Real Madrid's challenge couldn't end with a change in the refereeing team. "How are we going to remove a referee the day before the final because a club asks for it? It's impossible," they add. It would be a declaration of war on a group that Louzán needs to be able to face. His relationship with Medina Cantalejo is frosty, and his continued leadership of the Technical Committee of Referees remains up in the air. Some referees, like González Fuertes, who are loyal to their president, know this.

If Real Madrid hasn't made a change to the refereeing team, what was the point of launching this challenge? There's an explanation circulating in the federation's corridors. "They want to put the bandage on before the wound is healed, for what might happen on the field," they warn.

Meanwhile, Joan Laporta appeared triumphantly at the official dinner alongside President Louzán and José Luis Sanz , Mayor of Seville. Whatever happened, Barça spent the afternoon rubbing their hands in delight at the grotesque spectacle. A nine-hour farce that ended as expected: there would be a Copa del Rey final.