.jpeg "Sunflower Seeds: This Classic Snack Is a Protein Superfood")
Barcelona are considering legal action against Real Madrid president Florentino Perez after he accused the Catalan club of corruption during a dramatic press conference on Tuesday.
Perez made the remarks while addressing the media in Madrid ahead of fresh presidential elections at Real Madrid. The 79-year-old revisited the ongoing Negreira case involving FC Barcelona and former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, describing it as “the biggest scandal in history”.
“We have discovered that for the past three years we have been facing an unprecedented case of corruption, the biggest scandal in history: the Negreira case,” Perez said. “The referees from that era are still officiating in competitions such as LaLiga. We are going to compile a comprehensive dossier to present to UEFA so that they can nip this in the bud.”
Perez said Real Madrid were preparing a 500-page report that would be submitted after the season.
“It is incomprehensible that we are still seeing referees from that era in a competition like LaLiga,” he added. “This has gone on for two decades of payments. They are the same referees, and we are preparing a significant dossier that we are going to submit immediately to UEFA so that it can address the issue at its root and resolve the Negreira case for the good of world football.”
Barcelona responded soon after the press conference ended, confirming their legal team was reviewing Perez’s comments.
“After the press conference conducted by Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez, we inform that our legal department is carefully studying his words and accusations,” the club said in a statement. “In these moments, the club is analysing the situation and deciding which are the next steps to take. As soon as it’s considered opportune, we will inform further about our position and the decisions we make.”
Barcelona have denied wrongdoing in the Negreira case, which relates to payments reportedly worth around $10 million made to Negreira between 2001 and 2018. The club says he worked as an external consultant, while Negreira has denied bribery allegations.
PEREZ HITS BACK AT CRITICS
Perez also used the press conference to respond to criticism surrounding Madrid’s disappointing season and rumours about his health.
“I regret to inform you that I will not be resigning, but rather I have asked the board to initiate the electoral process for the board of directors elections, in which the current board will be running,” he said.
“They are taking advantage of the fact that we haven’t had the best results, but it’s something we accept because in sports, you don’t always win. This has happened to us many times before, but they use these situations to attack me personally. They say, ‘Where’s Florentino?’ I don’t usually speak out.”
Perez also dismissed reports about his health.
“They say I’m sick and have terminal cancer. I want to take this opportunity to remind those that my health is perfect I don’t know why this rumor started. If they say I have cancer, I should go to a cancer center and get checked out. Do you think that if that were the case, it wouldn’t be all over the world? It’s not true. They made it up and decided I’m just tired. I work like an animal. I’m the first one up and the last one to go to bed.”
The press conference came during a difficult period for Real Madrid after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Barcelona confirmed a second straight LaLiga title for their rivals. Reports of a dressing-room clash involving Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, along with criticism aimed at Kylian Mbappe for travelling to Italy while injured, have added to the scrutiny around the club.
Perez was first elected Real Madrid president in 2000 before returning in 2009. He has run unopposed in each of the club’s last four elections.
– Ends
