Real Madrid vs Referee: Pérez Incident & Controversy

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The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) has reacted strongly to the comments made by Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, during the club’s Christmas lunch. The Madrid leader had claimed that VAR referee González Fuertes had threatened to take disciplinary action against Real Madrid before the final of the last Copa del Rey, a statement which immediately prompted an official response from the AESAF.

In a statement published on Tuesday, the association rejected these accusations, denouncing the negative impact of such statements on the reputation of the refereeing community and Spanish football. The AESAF clarified that such assertions are harmful to the image of the refereeing body. To support its point, the association also shared a video of MARK showing that González Fuertes had not made any threats towards Real Madrid.

“The following statements clearly show that our colleague Pablo González does not threaten any club or any institution,” AESAF clarified in its message. Through this approach, the association seeks to defend the integrity of referees and to highlight what it considers to be an erroneous interpretation of the facts by the Madrid boss.

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The AESAF press release

The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) rejects the recent public statements of the President of Real Madrid, Mr. Florentino Pérez, due to the serious damage that this type of statement causes to the reputation of the refereeing community and Spanish football.

  • The Spanish refereeing community acts with independence, rigor and professionalism, and is not involved in any conspiracy or collusion with the interests of clubs or coaches.
  • In the so-called Negreira case, no arbitrator was investigated or indicted throughout the proceedings. We cannot accept the accusation of corruption leveled against the referees.
  • • Widespread accusations against referees unfairly damage the reputation of professionals who ply their trade under maximum pressure and constant public scrutiny, as well as the integrity of the competition itself.
  • • We understand that arbitration cannot be used as a pretext to justify sporting results. In football, victories and defeats are played out on the field.

The AESAF expresses its support to its colleague Pablo González Fuertes and to all referees in Spain, whose professional and personal work deserves institutional and social respect. We reject any attempt to personalize attacks or publicly and unjustified delegitimization of referees.

We would like to clarify that the accusation of threats during the press conference for the King’s Cup final of the 2024-25 season does not correspond to reality and constitutes, at the very least, a lie.

  • The AESAF warns that any public statements made from positions of influence have a direct impact on the culture of football and refereeing, and lead — directly or indirectly — to episodes of violence and aggression against referees at all levels.
  • The AESAF has been maintaining an open, receptive and constructive dialogue for months with representatives of professional clubs in order to improve the competition thanks to the impartiality of the referees.

The Spanish Association of Football Referees reaffirms that arbitration is an essential guarantee of impartiality and fairness in competition. Systematically associating referees with alleged scandals, without judicial basis or concrete proof, undermines confidence in the system and harms Spanish football as a whole.

We would like to clarify that the referees’ statements during the press conference following the 2024-2025 Copa del Rey final aimed to highlight that violence against referees and their families, at all levels of Spanish football, was reaching unacceptable levels. This is why, among other reasons, the group decided to create this union. In no case, as we can clearly see in the images, was there any threat towards a club, contrary to what Real Madrid tries to make people believe.

It is very serious that this club makes comments so far from reality, which could create an unsporting climate in Spanish competitions.

Regarding the so-called “Negreira” case, the AESAF fully respects the work of the judicial authorities and emphasizes that this is an ongoing procedure. To date, no charges have been brought against the referees and no investigation has been opened throughout the duration of the investigation. It is therefore essential to respect the principle of the presumption of innocence and to avoid any statement likely to mislead public opinion.

In our opinion, it is equally serious to maintain the accusation that the referees made decisions in favor of one club, or, by extension, to accuse them of potentially making decisions aimed at penalizing another club. Such statements create a climate detrimental to the smooth running of the competition.

The AESAF considers the use of refereeing as an argument to explain sporting situations particularly worrying. As the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Rafael Louzán, pointed out, clubs should neither attribute their results to referees nor seek external justification for their decisions.

We appreciate the support we receive from the RFEF, LaLiga, AFE, clubs, players and coaches, and we encourage everyone to share it. We are convinced that by working together we can improve the competition and restore it to the prestige it deserves.

The Association also believes that it is important to remember that public statements by managers, clubs or media personalities are not trivial, but have an immediate impact on society and football culture. When this discourse aims to delegitimize or constantly cast doubt on referees, it ends up spreading on the field, in the stands and even in amateur football, where it unfortunately manifests itself in insults, threats and attacks against referees.

The AESAF notes that this phenomenon affects all levels of football, from youth to professionals. Therefore, the Association insists on the need for institutional responsibility and exemplary leadership on the part of all football stakeholders in order to stop a spiral that endangers the physical, psychological well-being and reputation of those who guarantee the smooth running of competitions. We fully support the efforts made by the RFEF with the competent institutions and authorities to preserve the authority of arbitrators.

Finally, the AESAF highlights its participation for several months in the Refereeing Reform Commission, a permanent dialogue initiated by the RFEF and in which representatives of professional clubs participate. The latter listen to the proposals, analyze the concerns and work in a critical and constructive manner, always with the aim of strengthening the competition and Spanish football through impartial, professional and transparent arbitration. Real Madrid were absent from the last meeting.

The AESAF continues its work of training, professional development and continuous improvement of referees, in collaboration with the RFEF, LaLiga and international organizations. Implementing tools like VAR and review protocols helps increase transparency and reduce the margin for human error inherent in any sport.

“At the AESAF, we reaffirm our commitment to the full protection of referees and the defense of their dignity and professionalism. We call for institutional responsibility, respect and exemplary leadership towards those who guarantee the impartiality of the competition. »

The Spanish Association of Football Referees rejects the unfounded accusations and reaffirms its commitment to the independence, transparency and continuous improvement of refereeing in Spain. Football needs responsible institutions that contribute to credibility and respect, not rhetoric that undermines trust and fuels a climate of confrontation with real consequences for the refereeing community.

AESAF, the Spanish Association of Football Referees, is a legally constituted union and association (Official State Gazette, June 2025). Its mission is to defend, support and professionalize referees in Spain, guaranteeing them legal protection, well-being, training and institutional representation.

“Together we are stronger. »