Florentino Pérez, the 79-year-old president of Real Madrid, has once again captured headlines by launching a fierce attack on Barcelona. In a press conference aimed at deflecting blame for a disappointing season, Pérez accused the Catalan club of “robbery” and vowed to present a 500-page document to UEFA in an effort to have Barcelona expelled from European competitions.
Real Madrid’s 2025-26 campaign ended in a trophy-less disaster, plagued by injuries, locker room turmoil, and the departure of coach Xabi Alonso, with Álvaro Arbeloa also set to leave. Amid calls for renewal and restructuring, Pérez instead turned his fire on the media and Barcelona.
He revisited the Negreira case, claiming Barcelona paid a former refereeing official for two decades. “This is the biggest corruption scandal in the history of football. Paying a referee’s boss is simply unimaginable,” Pérez stated, reigniting the controversy. According to reports from *AS*, Real Madrid is compiling a 500-page complaint to be submitted to UEFA at the end of the season, demanding that Barcelona be banned from all European tournaments.
The explosive conference has escalated tensions between the two Spanish giants. Barcelona’s board has issued a statement saying they are analyzing Pérez’s remarks and considering legal action. *AS* noted that the conflict has moved beyond mere verbal sparring, as both clubs are now preparing for a legal battle that could define their future rivalry.