(foto: Getty Images)
Barcelona’s Inigo Martinez praised the referee after the Spanish Cup final, taking a swipe at Real Madrid’s pre-match campaign of criticism.
Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has come to the defense of de Burgos Bengoechea, the referee of the Spanish Cup final between Barcelona and Real Madrid, after days of tension and controversy.
Leading up to the final, the atmosphere had been heated, largely fueled by Real Madrid’s open criticism of the appointed referee. Despite the pressure, de Burgos Bengoechea delivered what most neutral observers considered a solid performance in Barcelona’s 3-2 victory.
While there were some complaints surrounding the VAR decisions — which fall outside the main referee’s responsibility — the overall consensus was that the officiating on the field was fair.
After the final whistle, Inigo Martinez shared his views, making it clear where he stood: "I think people were unfair to the referee and the criticism was not worthy of a big club like Real. I congratulated the referee, it was not easy for him."
Real Madrid had a different perspective on the night’s officiating, often protesting decisions during the match and eventually losing their composure completely as the final slipped away.