Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez on Saturday leveled explosive accusations against rival club FC Barcelona regarding alleged payments to a former top refereeing official, while also criticizing the leadership of Spain’s top football league.
Speaking during Real Madrid’s General Assembly at the Bernabéu, Pérez described the alleged payments to the former vice-president of Spanish referees as “not normal” and a “disgrace.” He claimed Barcelona paid approximately $8.6 million to the official over 17 years.
Pérez asserted that this period coincided with Barcelona’s “best internal results” and suggested Real Madrid was “the only one prejudiced” by the scandal, widely known as the “Negreira Case.” He noted that four Barcelona presidents maintained these payments.
The Real Madrid chief rejected calls to “turn the page” on the matter, specifically referencing comments by Fran Soto, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s Arbitration Committee. Pérez questioned how the situation could be forgotten, given many referees from that era remain active.
He presented statistics, alleging that during the period of payments, Barcelona recorded a balance of +49 more player expulsions in its favor, while Real Madrid had a -1 balance. Pérez encouraged members to “draw your own conclusions.”
Pérez also pointed to a prior incident where a referee reportedly threatened action against Real Madrid on the eve of a Copa del Rey final last season.
Beyond the refereeing controversy, Pérez criticized La Liga and its president, Javier Tebas, for promoting league matches outside of Spain. He cited a cancelled fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal intended for Miami, which drew widespread protests.
Pérez alleged that both Barcelona and Villarreal received “extra monetary injections” for agreeing to play in Miami. He dismissed comparisons to NFL games hosted at the Bernabéu, noting that the NFL event had unanimous club support and UEFA backing, unlike the proposed Miami match.