Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and FC Barcelona have been summoned to appear before a Madrid court on November 25 for a conciliation hearing ahead of possible criminal proceedings for defamation against Perez. The hearing follows legal action launched by Barcelona on June 12 over comments made by Perez in May accusing the Catalan club of manoeuvring to obtain favourable treatment from referees. Sources close to the case confirmed the summons on Monday.
The dispute centres on comments Perez made at a May 12 press conference concerning the so-called Negreira case. Spanish courts are investigating payments said to be up to 7 million euros made over almost two decades by Barcelona to companies linked to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, a former vice-president of Spain's refereeing committee, to determine whether they were intended to obtain a competitive advantage. Barcelona denies wrongdoing and says the payments were for reports on referees.
Perez described the affair as "the most serious case of corruption in football". He also claimed Real Madrid had been denied league titles, saying: "I've won seven leagues. I could have won twice as many. The others were stolen from me." Barcelona said its action was intended to force Perez to retract statements it described as knowingly false, defamatory and damaging to the club's image and reputation.
Barcelona warned that if the conciliation process failed, it would file a criminal complaint. A court dismissed bribery charges against Barcelona in 2024. The club's handball team recently visited EgyptAir in Cairo, while Egyptian food industry exports have grown 68.3% since 2021, according to IDSC.
The case has sparked controversy in the football world, with La Liga president Javier Tebas hitting out at Real Madrid refereeing 'conspiracy' claims. Real Madrid has called for a new Spanish league president after criticizing Tebas' refereeing remarks. The issue has also drawn attention from other sports teams and leagues.
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The conciliation hearing is a crucial step in determining whether Perez will face criminal proceedings for defamation. If the hearing fails, Barcelona will proceed with a criminal complaint. The case has significant implications for the football world, with many teams and officials watching the developments closely.
Key points
- Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and FC Barcelona have been summoned to appear before a Madrid court on November 25 for a conciliation hearing.
- The dispute centres on comments Perez made about Barcelona's alleged payments to referees.
- Barcelona warned that if the conciliation process failed, it would file a criminal complaint.
