The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have chosen the Camp Nou to host this year’s Copa del Rey final on May 30.
Two hours of negotiations between representatives from both finalists, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, failed to produce an agreement and the issue was finally settled by the RFEF board voting 26-18 in favour of Barcelona’s stadium.
According to reports, the RFEF had proposed Real Betis’ Benito Villamarin ground, provoking a debate involving Joan Gaspart, former Barcelona President and current Vice-President of the RFEF, who suggested the game should be played at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, Real Madrid’s alleged refusal to stage the event meant the Federation was left with two options – the Camp Nou or Athletic’s San Mames.
Barca are understood to have accepted the proposal to hold the game in Bilbao on condition they received 50 per cent of the tickets, something the Basques rejected out of hand.
Betis’ ground was then ruled out due to a medical conference taking place in Sevilla the same day, meaning there would be a shortage of hotel beds, while Valencia’s Mestalla was also dismissed, leaving the Camp Nou as the last alternative, which the RFEF then voted for.
As a result, not only will Barcelona now have home advantage but they are also entitled to a share of the total tickets available, in addition to an extra percentage of the television rights and related advertising revenue.
