Spanish giants FC Barcelona have officially begun legal proceedings against Florentino Pérez after accusing the Real Madrid president of making defamatory statements that damaged the club’s reputation.
The dispute stems from comments made by Pérez during a press conference on May 12 and a subsequent media interview, where he allegedly claimed that Barcelona had “stolen” titles from Real Madrid CF with the assistance of referees.
The remarks were linked to the ongoing Negreira controversy, a high-profile case involving payments made by Barcelona to companies linked to former refereeing official José María Enríquez Negreira. Barcelona has consistently denied any wrongdoing or influence over match officials.
In an official statement, Barcelona confirmed that it has filed a mandatory conciliation request, the first legal step required under Spanish law before initiating a criminal slander case.
The club stated that the action is being taken under Article 205 of Spain’s Penal Code, which covers allegations of slander and false accusations.
Barcelona said the objective is not to harm Pérez personally but to compel him to retract statements the club claims were knowingly false and damaging.
“The objective of this lawsuit is for Mr. Pérez to retract certain statements he made knowing them to be false, statements that are slanderous and offensive to the image and reputation of the club,” Barcelona said.
The Catalan club further warned that if the matter is not satisfactorily resolved during the conciliation process, it will proceed with a formal criminal complaint against the Real Madrid president.
The latest development marks a significant escalation in tensions between Spain’s two biggest football institutions, whose rivalry already extends far beyond the pitch.
Pérez has previously dismissed the possibility of legal action and appeared unfazed by Barcelona’s threats.
“Barça would do well to sue me. If they think they should, let them do it,” he reportedly said while defending his criticism of the club.
The case is expected to attract major attention across Spanish football, particularly because it involves two of the most powerful clubs in world sport and touches on allegations that have overshadowed Spanish football for several years.
Should the dispute proceed to court, it could become one of the most high-profile legal battles between Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent history, adding another chapter to one of football’s fiercest rivalries.
Discover more from Niyi Daram
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
