Barcelona files defamation conciliation demand against Florentino Pérez over 'Negreira case' remarks

Pérez's May accusations

In a 12 May press conference called to announce Real Madrid elections, Florentino Pérez delivered a blistering attack on FC Barcelona over the so-called 'Negreira case', which involves payments by the Catalan club to a former vice-president of the referees' committee. He described it as "the biggest case of corruption in football history" and claimed that referees had enriched themselves with Barcelona's money. "I have won seven European Cups and seven Leagues, which could have been 14 because they have been stolen from me," Pérez said. In a follow-up interview on 13 May he repeated the accusations and revealed that Real Madrid had prepared a 500-page dossier to send to UEFA.

“It is the biggest case of corruption in the history of football.”

Legal steps today

The Barcelona board, led on an interim basis by Rafael Yuste, announced on Friday that it had filed a mandatory pre-suit conciliation demand under Article 205 of the Spanish Penal Code. The move is a prerequisite before lodging a criminal complaint for defamation. The club's statement confirmed the action was taken "as a result of the statements made by [Pérez] at the press conference on 12 May and in an interview the following day."

“The objective of this request is for Mr Pérez to retract certain statements made knowingly false and which are defamatory and offensive to the image and reputation of the Club.”

Demands and ultimatum

Barcelona stressed that the conciliation demand was not an empty gesture. If Pérez fails to issue a satisfactory retraction, the club will immediately proceed with a criminal complaint. The legal department had been studying the remarks since they were made, and acting president Yuste had already signalled in earlier comments that the club would act, accusing Pérez of being unable to digest Barça's successes.

“If this request is not duly answered, FC Barcelona will proceed to file the corresponding criminal complaint.”

The next step now lies with the Real Madrid president, who has the option to withdraw his words or face formal criminal proceedings.