The Spanish Football Federation ( RFEF) decided on Wednesday that the final of this season's King' s Cup between Athletic Club Bilbao and FC Barcelona will be played at Barcelona's Camp Nou Stadium on May 30th.

Both of the finalists had officially asked for the game to be played at Real Madrid's 78,000 capacity Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and last week sent a joint letter to the RFEF requesting that be the venue arguing that it is the biggest neutral ground in Spain, while Madrid is relatively easy to each for both sets of supporters and the city has enough hotel rooms to accommodate everyone with no problems.

However, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, who describes Real Madrid as a 'club of gentlemen' refused to cede the ground to Athletic and Barca for the second time in 3 years, forcing both sides to agree on an alternative venue.

Athletic asked for the final to be played in Seville in Betis' Benito Vilamarin Stadium, while Barca preferred Valencia's Mestalla Stadium and the two were unable to reach agreement.

That meant the RFEF members voted on the final and they decided to play in Barcelona's Camp Nou Stadium, which has a capacity of 99,000, much greater than either Mestalla or Athletic's San Mames, which was also mooted as a possible venue.

Barcelona will have a clear advantage in playing in a ground which they are used to playing in, while Athletic will think that their support will perhaps outnumber Barca fans in the Stadium. Endite

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