FC Barcelona has secured a court date for a conciliation hearing with Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez on November 25 at 9:40 a.m. in Madrid. The legal action follows accusations made by Pérez that the Catalan club bought referees, a claim Barcelona describes as false and offensive to its reputation.
Madrid Courts Set November 25 Date for Conciliation Hearing
The courts in Madrid have scheduled the mandatory conciliation act for November 25 at 9:40 a.m. in the Sala de Vistas Juzgados 1 and 2. According to report from SPORT, the judicial administration has warned that if the plaintiff, FC Barcelona, fails to appear, the case will be archived. Conversely, if the defendant, Florentino Pérez, does not attend, the act will be recorded as attempted for all legal purposes.
This hearing serves as a required legal step before Barcelona can file a formal criminal complaint for slander under Article 205 of the Spanish Penal Code. The club’s legal services, led by Pere Lluís Mellado, initiated the process after studying the statements made by Pérez in May.
The Accusations Triggering the Slander Claim
The dispute stems from a press conference held by Florentino Pérez on May 12, during which he announced the calling of presidential elections. During this event, Pérez targeted FC Barcelona regarding the “Negreira case,” alleging that the club’s actions altered the competition. According to coverage by La Vanguardia, Pérez claimed that seven league titles were “stolen” from Real Madrid and that the club was deprived of up to 16 points in the previous season due to systemic corruption.
Pérez described the Negreira case as the “greatest scandal in history” and stated that Barcelona paid money to the person in charge of referees. He further asserted that while other teams were affected, Barcelona always benefited from these arrangements. These claims were reiterated the following day during an interview with Josep Pedrerol on La Sexta.
Barcelona’s Demands for Rectification and Evidence
FC Barcelona’s primary objective in this lawsuit is to force a formal retraction. In an official statement, the club explained that the goal is for Pérez to retract statements made with “knowledge of their falsehood” that are “calumnious and offensive to the image and reputation of the Club.”
Beyond a simple apology, Barcelona is demanding that Pérez provide specific evidence to support his claims. According to SPORT, the club is asking the Real Madrid president to:
- Identify the specific members of the refereeing body who received payments, whom Pérez referred to as the “Negreira Boys.”
- Specify the exact matches in which this alleged corruption occurred.
- Identify the specific plays or game incidents where the corruption influenced the outcome.
Legal Consequences if Conciliation Fails
The current proceeding is a preliminary attempt to resolve the matter through a retraction. However, the stakes remain high for the Real Madrid president. Both SPORT and La Vanguardia report that if Pérez refuses to attend the hearing or declines to retract his statements, FC Barcelona will proceed with a criminal lawsuit for the crime of slander.
The club’s board, which was presided over by Rafa Yuste at the time the decision to sue was announced on June 12, has signaled that they view the accusations of buying referees as a direct attack on the institution’s integrity.
Timeline of the Legal Dispute
| Date | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| May 12 | Press Conference | Florentino Pérez alleges systemic corruption and “stolen” titles. |
| May 13 | Media Interview | Pérez reiterates accusations during an appearance on La Sexta. |
| June 12 | Lawsuit Filing | Barcelona announces a conciliation demand for slander. |
| November 25 | Court Date | Scheduled conciliation hearing in Madrid at 9:40 a.m. |
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