Refereeing the Clasico is an honor for me, and I don’t care what the Real Madrid channel does
De Burgos: Refereeing the Clasico is an honor for me, and I don’t care what the Real Madrid channel does
De Burgos said: “The level of referees in Spain is in question, but I believe our current level is not bad at all; we must continue to work, and the players must continue to work. There is no difference between us and refereeing in Europe.”
He added: “Reports from the Real Madrid channel against referees? I don’t care; it may be offensive to the institution and to me, but I have to look at myself and know what I need to continue improving.”
He continued: “Do you prepare specifically for such matches? It is just a regular match, but it is also a final between two great teams; it is also an emotional preparation. They are two teams with great speed, and the faster it gets, the harder it is to make decisions. It is important to evaluate the players, whether they will face the opponent or how they will play, because they will create difficult situations for us.”
He went on: “Is this your first Copa del Rey final to officiate? It is an honor for me to enjoy this final between two great teams. I am very excited about the trust the committee has given me to officiate this match. Last year, I had the opportunity, but I was not chosen; this year, I promised myself to do my best to be among the best referees on the list, and I will do my utmost to meet everyone’s expectations.”
He emphasized: “We came here with the intention of not disappointing the fans and reducing criticism; we know there will be controversy, and we will try to make the best decisions. We have to focus on the match. But we will try to enjoy it until the final whistle, yet we must focus solely on the match.”
He added: “Video assistant referee decisions do not affect us, but if we resort to video technology, it is because we need to improve our performance. I never think of leaving my colleagues in the video room to make the decision for me; even if I am called tomorrow to review a scene, I will make the decision myself. I hear a lot that referees always wait for what the video system tells us; we do not wait for a decision from it, but we are just informed that the play is under review, and we communicate through our gestures so that journalists and fans know, which is why we often gesture to place our hand on our ear.”
He added: “What does Medina Cantalejo, the head of the technical committee for refereeing, mean to you? He was my refereeing father; I will always do my best for him. We all make mistakes, and we have to work together. I am grateful for being chosen to officiate tomorrow; I know it was not easy for him, and I hope he will be proud of me tomorrow. He is honest and respectful; he is someone we should all emulate. He is the best leader we could wish for.”
He concluded: “Do clips from the Real Madrid channel affect children’s desire to become referees in the future? When your son goes to school and is told that his father is a thief, it is very difficult. All I try to do is educate my son to know that his father is honest and teach him the meaning of refereeing, so that everyone can think about their future. I would like you to know that it is very difficult.”
