Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, the referee for the upcoming Copa del Rey final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, became emotional on Friday while discussing the immense pressure he’s under prior to the match.

In response to questions about a video released by Real Madrid’s Club TV (RMTV), which points out alleged mistakes he made in previous encounters, de Burgos Bengoetxea opened up about the emotional toll. This tactic is often used by RMTV to sway referees ahead of important games.

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When addressing the recent video, he struggled to hold back tears, sharing how it affects both him and his family, as reported by Xinhua.

“It’s tough when your son comes home from school and tells you that his friends call his father a thief. It’s unfair, and it goes beyond just professionals—many families are impacted, and everyone should take a moment to think about their actions,” he said.

Pablo Gonzalez Fuentes, the VAR official for Saturday’s match, also criticized RMTV’s strategy, emphasizing the negative consequences of such videos. “They need to acknowledge the aftermath of these actions,” he remarked, noting that they often lead to online harassment of officials.

“We see community managers on official social media instigating attacks for likes. Footballers’ actions often imply that we’re dishonest. When journalists use terms like ‘theft,’ that frustration spills over onto the kids of referees,” he added. “We must confront these issues to restore a healthier and cleaner football environment.”

On the other hand, Real Madrid is preparing for the match amid serious injury concerns.

French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga will miss the rest of the season after suffering a significant groin injury during Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Getafe.

Camavinga came on for David Alaba at halftime, but had to leave the field in the 87th minute due to his injury, despite Madrid having used all their substitutions.

After the match, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti indicated that both Alaba and Camavinga might not be ready for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona. However, tests conducted Thursday revealed that Camavinga’s injury is more severe than initially believed.

The Kalinga Super Cup 2025 is down to its final eight teams, with Kerala Blasters FC set to face reigning ISL Shield and Cup champions, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, while FC Goa goes up against Punjab FC on the tournament’s opening day at Kalinga Stadium this Saturday.

The Round of 16 matches delivered some unexpected outcomes, including the surprise exits of defending champions East Bengal FC and last year’s runners-up Odisha FC. In a stunning upset, I-League club Inter Kashi knocked out ISL 2024-25 cup runners-up Bengaluru FC on penalties.

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Meanwhile, ISL clubs Mumbai City FC and NorthEast United FC each made a strong statement with decisive wins over Chennaiyin FC (4-0) and Mohammedan Sporting (6-0), respectively.

On the first day of the quarterfinals, two of India’s most beloved clubs will clash as Kerala Blasters FC meet Mohun Bagan Super Giant, while FC Goa takes on Punjab FC.

A rejuvenated Kerala Blasters FC will face Mohun Bagan SG in their first quarterfinal appearance, under new head coach David Català, who joined just weeks prior to the tournament.

Having defeated the defending champions, the Blasters enter with newfound confidence, though they acknowledge the challenge posed by a Mohun Bagan side featuring several players from their developmental squad. Català remains cautious about the quality of the Green and Maroons.

“We approach every match with the same mindset: to win. We just need to stay focused,” Català remarked. “Facing a younger MBSG team does not grant us an advantage, as they are competent and skilled players, having proven themselves as league and ISL Cup champions. It will be a tough match.”

Mohun Bagan SG, who received a bye in the Round of 16 due to Churchill Brothers’ withdrawal, have already secured a spot in the AFC Champions League Two. They plan to give their younger talents a chance, appointing midfielder Deepak Tangri as the team captain.

Assistant coach Bastab Roy, stepping in for José Molina, emphasizes using this tournament as a platform for experience. “Our main goal is to play, enjoy the sport, and assess how the young players handle this level. There’s no pressure to win,” he stated. “However, we also have seasoned players like Deepak, Sahal, and Ashique, who will contribute significantly.”

The second quarterfinal pits FC Goa against Punjab FC, with the Gaurs historically favored, having never lost to Punjab in their four previous encounters, with the latter only managing a draw.

Nonetheless, FC Goa remains cautious. Head coach Manolo Márquez noted, “Every match against Punjab FC has been challenging. While we were fortunate to win both encounters this season, each game feels like a final.”

Punjab FC’s coach Panagiotis Dilmperis downplayed the significance of their previous victory over Odisha FC, stating, “That match is behind us; we’re focused solely on tomorrow’s game.”

Dilmperis highlighted the need for patience in the face of FC Goa’s strength. “We are up against the ISL’s second-placed team, who possess quality and a solid tactical approach. As this is a knockout match, a draw may lead to penalties, so strategy will be crucial.”

Both matches will be broadcast live on Star Sports 3 and streamed on JioHotstar, with Kerala Blasters FC vs Mohun Bagan SG starting at 4:30 PM IST and FC Goa vs Punjab FC at 8:00 PM.

Rashmika Sahgal from Delhi achieved a remarkable triple crown in the women’s 10m air pistol events during the two-day finals of the 23rd Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship, held at the M.P. State Academy ranges in Bhopal on Friday. This prestigious competition attracts top shooters from across India, with pistol events taking place in Bhopal and rifle events at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi.

Rashmika, who will represent the junior Indian team at the upcoming Junior World Cup in Suhl next month, scored 239.9 in the women’s final, 243.2 in the junior women’s final, and 240.6 in the youth women’s final, successfully winning all three events. Earlier on Thursday, Naamya Kapoor of Delhi secured victory in the junior women’s 25m pistol event by achieving 34 hits in the final.

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Also on Thursday, Divya T.S. from Karnataka claimed the women’s 25m pistol title, shooting a remarkable 586 in the qualifying round, followed by 31 hits in the final, which included five rapid-fire shots in each of the ten series. Notably, she competed against Olympian and former Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat, who finished fourth.

In the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) final held in Delhi, Akhil Sheoran from the Railways, a reigning world championship bronze medalist, took the title with a score of 462.5. West Bengal’s Adriyan Karmakar won the junior men’s 3P title during the same event.

Riya Shirish Thatte from Maharashtra shone on the first day of finals, finishing second to Divya in the senior final with 28 hits, while also placing fourth in the junior final.

Similarly, Rohit Kanyan of Haryana distinguished himself in Delhi, winning silver in the men’s 3P and advancing to the junior final to finish sixth.

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Swapnil Kusale had a day of mixed results; he won gold for the Railways in the men’s 3P team event and tied his own championship qualification record of 589, leading the qualifiers, but finished fifth in the men’s 3P final.