By Fernando Kallas SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) -Real Madrid boycotted pre-match activities ahead of their Copa del Rey final against rivals Barcelona after the match referee gave an emotional press conference in which he called out Real for criticising the official on their in-house tv channel.

The biggest fixture of the weekend in European soccer is unquestionably El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. The stakes? The most ancient piece of silverware in Spanish soccer: The Copa del Rey.

The referee for the final of the Copa del Rey has choked up while denouncing the toxic environment his family has endured after Real Madrid's television channel ran a video discrediting him ahead of the game against Barcelona.