Barça vs Real: Archivo VAR Unleashes the Truth, “On Medina Cantalejo’s Orders…”

On the eve of what was meant to be a historic Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid, a seismic wave shook Spanish football. Archivo VAR, always on the lookout for hidden power plays within refereeing circles, has now exposed a scandal that could leave lasting scars.

The atmosphere in Seville, the city set to host the much-anticipated final, was calm—until a media bombshell detonated. Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modric, representing Real Madrid, were about to attend their scheduled press conference when everything was abruptly suspended. The reason? Shocking revelations from the referees assigned to the match.

Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea, the main referee, and González Fuertes, designated to oversee VAR, had been invited by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for an unprecedented media appearance. What should have been a routine exchange quickly turned into a full-blown earthquake. De Burgos broke down in tears in front of the cameras, while Fuertes announced radical measures against Real Madrid.

With an emotional tone, Fuertes voiced his exhaustion over the pressure exerted by certain clubs—most notably Real Madrid. “We are going to act. You will see soon. It’s time to turn a new page. We can no longer tolerate this,” he declared, stunning everyone present.

Real Madrid responded immediately. Through an official statement, the club demanded urgent explanations and even hinted at the possibility of boycotting the final if the matter wasn’t cleared up. Tensions reached boiling point.

Amid this explosive climate, Archivo VAR dropped its bombshell. On its X account, a detailed exposé titled “Medina Cantalejo’s Last Authoritarian Move” revealed a series of irregularities and behind-the-scenes manipulations within the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA).

According to Archivo VAR, Medina Cantalejo, aware that his days as CTA President were numbered, allegedly orchestrated a desperate final power play. He personally handpicked De Burgos Bengoetxea and González Fuertes—two loyalists—to execute a public relations stunt designed to sway public opinion.

Even the selection of the referees raised eyebrows. While Medina Cantalejo publicly claimed to favor on-field referees for VAR duties, he paradoxically chose González Fuertes—an on-field referee—to supervise VAR during this crucial final. Even more suspicious, González Fuertes wasn’t the original choice.

Initially, Soto Grado and Figueroa Vázquez had been selected by the CTA to officiate this high-stakes match. However, at Medina Cantalejo’s direct orders, Clos Gómez reportedly removed them at the last minute, replacing them with his closest allies.

Behind this sudden reshuffling was a clear agenda: to control the narrative around officiating decisions, shield Medina Cantalejo’s position, and indirectly undermine Real Madrid, seen as a major adversary in Spanish football’s internal wars.

The press conference, far from being a spontaneous event, had been meticulously staged. Every word, every tear, every accusation was rehearsed to create an illusion of unity behind Medina Cantalejo, to portray his opponents as troublemakers, and to justify his continued reign.

However, the strategy spectacularly backfired. De Burgos’ emotional outburst and Fuertes’ aggressive declarations shocked many within Spanish football—including several allies of Cantalejo himself.

Just hours before the final, the controversial media intervention cast a heavy cloud over the integrity of the refereeing team and deepened the growing distrust between clubs and institutions. Even typically silent referees expressed discomfort over the blatant theatrics.

The crisis reached such proportions that the Spanish Football Federation is reportedly considering holding Medina Cantalejo accountable. In trying to cling to power, he may have hastened his own downfall.

Archivo VAR even claims that the RFEF, stunned by the scale of the scandal, is preparing an official response. An investigation may be launched, and Medina Cantalejo could be forced to publicly explain himself in the coming hours.

For Real Madrid, these revelations vindicate their long-held concerns. Often accused of paranoia when raising issues about officiating bias, the club now finds itself backed by concrete evidence.

The question is no longer whether the final will be affected, but to what extent this scandal will tarnish the image of Spanish football. Beyond the outcome on the pitch, it’s the very credibility of the institutions that is at stake.

As kick-off looms, a bitter atmosphere engulfs Seville. A match that should have been a celebration of football risks being remembered for much darker reasons.

Stay tuned, because this storm is far from over.