The presentation of Real Madrid's championship trophy will not be a grand occasion with all the press present, but the trophy will be awarded behind closed doors. This brings an end to a minor saga about the date of the ceremony.
Real Madrid was crowned the champion of Spain last Saturday without even stepping onto the pitch, a title clinched by virtue of their arch-rival Barcelona failing to secure a win against Girona.
Initially, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) had scheduled the trophy presentation for the next league match of Real Madrid, which would take place the following Saturday after an away game against Granada. However, Real Madrid expressed concerns over this timing.
Real Madrid's apprehension stemmed from the likely scenario that Granada could face relegation from La Liga on the same day, which could dampen the celebratory atmosphere. Acknowledging the sensitivity of the situation, the RFEF reconsidered its initial decision at the behest of the newly crowned champions. Consequently, it was decided to delay the trophy presentation until Real Madrid's subsequent match, which was set for Tuesday, May 14th, against Deportivo Alavés at their home stadium.
Yet, this revised plan encountered its own set of challenges. Madrid was already gearing up to celebrate its 36th league title on the upcoming Sunday, with a large-scale public celebration planned. The festivities were scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM, with thousands expected to flood the streets in jubilation. The absence of the championship trophy at this event seemed incongruent with the spirit of the occasion.
To resolve this, a decision was made to hold a private trophy presentation earlier on the same day. According to the sports newspaper Marca, the ceremony would occur behind closed doors at 9:30 AM, where RFEF President Pedro Rocha would present the trophy to Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez and the team. This arrangement would enable the players to showcase the trophy during the public celebrations, ensuring that the fans could revel in the glory of their team's achievement with the championship trophy in full view. This solution, though unconventional, aimed to honor the triumph appropriately while considering the sensitivities involved with the timing and context of the original presentation plan.
