Both Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao want to play the Copa del Rey final at the Santiago Bernabeu but Real Madrid are reluctant to stage the game
Whistling during Spain's national anthem is worse than booing Cristiano Ronaldo, according to LFP president Javier Tebas, who fears more controversy during the Copa del Rey final.
Back in 2012, the final was marred by Barca and Athletic Bilbao supporters drowning out the anthem prior to kick-off and an address from the country's king, Juan Carlos.
There are fears the same thing could happen again when the two sides meet on May 30, with large sections of the Barca support campaigning for Catalan independence throughout this season.
Tebas told fans on RAC1: "Don’t whistle the anthem. It’s the same as shouting “Puta Cataluña (Catalan whores), it’s something we don’t tolerate, whistling the anthem is the same.
"I want to hear the Catalan authorities come out and say the anthem should not be whistled, like President Mas [of Cordoba].
"The legal aspect of preventing the whistles is difficult. How can we avoid it? We all need to go in the same direction.
“Whistling the anthem is not a question of freedom of expression. Is it freedom of expression to say “Puta Cataluña?
“When, in minute 17:14, there are screams for independence at the Camp Nou it is not an intolerable shout. I don’t agree with it, but it’s fine.
“To me it seems worse to whistle the anthem than it is to insult Cristiano [Ronaldo].”
The venue for the Copa del Rey final is still to be confirmed, with both Barca and Bilbao keen on the game being played at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
However, the club are not keen on their arch-rivals potentially winning a trophy at their home ground and have attempted to distances themselves from an possible involvement.
