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. This follows legal action launched by Barcelona on June 12 over comments made by Perez in May. Barcelona's action was intended to force Perez to retract statements it described as knowingly false, defamatory and damaging to the club's image and reputation.
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. The investigation aims to determine whether the payments were intended to obtain a competitive advantage.
Barcelona denies wrongdoing and says the payments were for reports on referees. A court dismissed bribery charges against Barcelona in 2024. Perez described the affair as "the most serious case of corruption in football". He also claimed Real Madrid had been denied league titles, saying that he could have won twice as many league titles if not for the alleged corruption.
Perez's comments led to Barcelona filing a criminal complaint if the conciliation process failed. The club warned that it would not hesitate to take further action to protect its image and reputation. The hearing on November 25 will aim to resolve the matter before it proceeds to possible criminal proceedings.
The Negreira case has raised concerns about corruption in Spanish football. The investigation into Barcelona's payments to companies linked to Negreira is ongoing. The case has also sparked debate about the integrity of refereeing in Spanish football.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are two of the biggest clubs in Spanish football. The rivalry between the clubs is intense, both on and off the pitch. The dispute between Perez and Barcelona has added to the tension between the clubs.
The outcome of the conciliation hearing on November 25 will determine the next steps in the case. If the hearing fails to resolve the matter, Perez and Barcelona will face possible criminal proceedings. The case will continue to be closely watched by the football community.
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 companies linked to a former vice-president of Spain's refereeing committee.
- The case has raised concerns about corruption in Spanish football and the integrity of refereeing.
