"Stop it. Don't tarnish the image of Spanish football."
As the controversy surrounding the referees intensified ahead of the Copa del RAY final, Atletico Madrid spoke out against Real Madrid's behavior. Atletico criticized the situation 'Real Madrid vs. the referees' that unfolded off the field.
Spain's Marca reported on the 26th (Korean time) that "Atletico strongly criticized the pressure on referees from Real Madrid. They claimed Real is 'damaging the image of Spanish football' and brought up the message #StopAcosoArbitralYa (stop the harassment of referees)."
A day earlier, Real Madrid canceled a press conference and official training schedule in protest of the referee assignments for the Copa del RAY final, with some media reporting that "Real might boycott the final."
In response, Real highlighted in an official statement on the 26th, "We did not refuse the final. Rather, the statements made by these referees are clearly inappropriate and regrettable."
Their Madrid rival Atletico reacted immediately. Atletico stated, "This situation has reached an unbearable level. Real Madrid is repeatedly pushing Spanish football into crisis."
This reaction from Atletico is not the first. There have been similar conflicts in the past when facing Real in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, during which they also pointed out Real Madrid's 'pressure on referees' using the hashtag #StopAcosoArbitralYa. At that time, Real issued a statement claiming that "the referee system has completely lost trust," and Atletico responded by stating that "they are threatening and intimidating referees through official channels."
This time, Atletico delivered a similar message. The club stated, "Real is mobilizing their 'friendly group of journalists' to spread their delusions," directly criticizing Real for using club media and friendly reporters to shape public opinion in their favor.
A day before the final, Atletico once again expressed solidarity with the referees under pressure from Real, stating, "We send total support and solidarity to the referees and their families and friends. Right now, Spanish football as a whole is going through a very difficult time."
Ultimately, Atletico defined this Copa del RAY final as "one of the most controversial finals in the history of Spanish football," stating that "Real Madrid has once again revealed a chronic problem of repeatedly pressuring referees ahead of important matches."
Even without being at the stadium, this message echoed from another part of Madrid, acting as a strong warning towards Real.
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