How 48 hours of rage and recrimination overshadowed the Copa del Rey final

“Real Madrid were launching one desperate last attempt to save Saturday’s Copa del Rey final when referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea signalled a free kick against forward Kylian Mbappe. With the game well past the 120-minute mark, everyone in Seville’s Estadio Cartuja realised that Barcelona were about to win the game 3-2 and lift the trophy. On the sidelines, Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, who, a few minutes earlier, had limped off the pitch injured, leapt to his feet and appeared to throw a bag of ice he had been holding against his leg in the direction of the referee. Amid chaotic scenes, De Burgos Bengoetxea showed a red card to Rudiger, and another to Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez, who had entered the pitch to protest despite having also been substituted earlier. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
NY Times/The Athletic: Why a Spanish referee breaking down in tears caused a furious reaction from Real Madrid (Video)
NY Times/The Athletic: Barcelona 3 Real Madrid 2 – Jules Kounde the unlikely hero in epic Copa del Rey final
Guardian: Barcelona win thrilling Copa del Rey and drive Madrid to red card fury