In a bold address to the Real Madrid socios compromisarios, president Florentino Pérez launched a fierce critique of Spanish refereeing, marking a significant shift in his stance on the issue. During his speech, Pérez highlighted the alarming decline in the quality of officiating in Spain, stating, “The level of Spanish refereeing is not acceptable in a league that prides itself on being one of the top leagues in the world.” He pointed out that none of the 35 referees selected for the recent FIFA Club World Cup were Spanish, a fact he deemed “a disgrace for Spanish football.”
Pérez’s remarks came amidst ongoing concerns regarding the Negreira scandal, which has raised questions about transparency and integrity in officiating. He emphasized the absurdity of FC Barcelona having paid over €8 million to the vice-president of referees for nearly 17 years, questioning the motivations behind such payments. “It is not normal for at least four presidents of FC Barcelona to have accepted this system of multi-million euro payments,” he asserted.
Real Madrid’s Unique Position
Continuing his critique, Pérez lamented that Real Madrid stands alone among La Liga clubs in formally denouncing the Negreira affair. “Real Madrid is the only club that has filed as a civil party in the Negreira trial,” he stated, underscoring that all clubs were affected by this situation. He criticized the lack of substantial reforms following the scandal, noting that only superficial changes had been implemented within Spanish refereeing structures. “The new refereeing president, Fran Soto, suggests we should forget about Negreira. Yet, many referees from that era remain active today,” he added.
Pérez further elaborated on how this enduring legacy impacts current officiating standards. He recalled an incident prior to a Copa del Rey final where an official allegedly threatened Real Madrid with sanctions from other referees. “How can this happen before such an important match? That referee should have been removed from duty immediately,” he said.
Statistics and Comparisons
To bolster his argument, Pérez cited statistical discrepancies between Real Madrid and Barcelona regarding expulsions during 2021. “Real Madrid had a net total of two expulsions compared to Barcelona’s 61,” he noted, highlighting a striking difference that raises eyebrows given their nearly identical overall records during that period. He drew parallels with Germany’s Bundesliga, where Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund maintain similar disciplinary records, contrasting sharply with La Liga’s treatment of Real Madrid.
Pérez concluded with a thought-provoking question: “How is it possible that players from Real Madrid have won more European Cups than league titles? Some have secured up to six European Cups yet only four or five league titles.” This statement encapsulates his frustration and calls into question the integrity of officiating in Spanish football.
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