The Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao will be played at Atletico Madrid’s Estadio Vicente Calderon. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) rejected a request from both sides to hold the final at Real Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, which holds 85,454 compared to 54,960 at the Calderon. The RFEF’s decision came at a board meeting on Tuesday after several weeks of arguing over the venue of the match on 25th May. Real Madrid declined to host the match, saying they had building work planned. However, media reports had speculated that Real did not want their arch-rivals Barcelona lifting a trophy at their home ground. The mayor of Bilbao was quoted in the local media as describing Real’s refusal to host the match as “shameful.” Barca boycotted Tuesday’s meeting in protest.

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Atletico to host cup final