Referees’ Association requests disciplinary measure against Florentino Perez

Referees’ Association requests disciplinary measure against Florentino Perez

The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) has asked the RFEF Competition Committee to open disciplinary proceedings against Real Madrid president Florentino Perez following his statements regarding alleged systemic corruption and stolen titles.

On Tuesday, May 12, Perez held an institutional press conference at Real Madrid’s facilities in which he made serious accusations against the refereeing body in Spain, while targeting FC Barcelona and the Negreira scandal.

The following day, he repeated those claims during an interview on El Chiringuito TV. Both appearances received major national and international media coverage and made waves.

Barcelona have already issued a statement confirming they are considering pursuing legal actions, and now the referees, through the AESAF, have asked for sanctions against the Real Madrid chief.

AESAF’s complaint

In the statement issued by the AESAF, they highlighted some of the comments made by Perez in particular, which are as follows:

• Allegations of stolen titles: “I’ve been here many seasons and I’ve won seven Champions Leagues and seven La Liga titles, because the others were stolen from me. Systemic corruption for two decades and they are still the same referees.”
• Describing the matter as the biggest corruption scandal in football history: “We are preparing a 500-page dossier that we will present to UEFA. How could we forget it? The biggest corruption case in football history.”
• Allegations of illicit enrichment involving referees: “I did not come here so that referees could enrich themselves with Barcelona’s money.”
• Further accusations of bias on La Sexta: “Systemic corruption. The same referees keep doing the same things in a shameless way. This season they have robbed us of 16 or 18 points.”

Measures requested

AESAF argues that these remarks go far beyond freedom of expression or normal sporting criticism, since they effectively accuse the refereeing collective of committing ongoing criminal conduct over two decades.

The association also stresses that Perez, as the representative of one of the world’s most high-profile clubs, amplifies the impact of his words and therefore bears even greater responsibility.

Florentino Perez’s press conference has ruffled a lot of feathers. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

For that reason, AESAF has requested that the Competition Committee adopt precautionary and urgent measures to prevent similar statements while proceedings are ongoing.

The association is also asking for Perez to compensate the refereeing collective for moral, professional and reputational damages, as well as for Real Madrid to issue a public statement of rectification and apology.

AESAF published its statement after Real Madrid’s midweek fixture, emphasising the need to protect the integrity of Spanish football and the competition itself.

According to the association, the Real Madrid president’s comments represent a serious and systematic attack on the honour of Spanish referees without judicial evidence to support the claims.

It remains to be seen if Real Madrid or Perez respond to the complaint.