Barça Demands Retraction
Barça Demands Retraction from Florentino Pérez Over Accusations Before Filing Lawsuit
FC Barcelona has formally filed a conciliation demand against Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, giving him a chance to retract his claims before the club pursues a criminal slander lawsuit La Vanguardia. The move follows Pérez's May 12 press conference, where he declared the Negreira case
The demand targets Pérez's repeated public claim that Real Madrid had
Pérez's "Seven Stolen Titles" Claim Sparks Legal Battle
At a May 12 press conference to announce his re-election bid, Pérez declared the Negreira case "the biggest corruption scandal in football history" La Vanguardia. He claimed Real Madrid had won only seven league titles when it should have won fourteen, saying the rest were "stolen" AS. He was re-elected as Real Madrid president on June 1 with 65% of the vote.
Pérez also submitted a 500-page dossier to UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin at the Champions League final in Budapest on May 31 AS. The dossier reportedly asks UEFA to strip Barcelona of titles won between 2001 and 2018. Čeferin called the situation "extremely serious."
The Negreira Case: €8.4 Million at the Heart of the Dispute
The conflict centers on payments totaling €8.4 million made by FC Barcelona between 2001 and 2018 Mundo Deportivo. The money went to companies owned by José María Enríquez Negreira, former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees. Barcelona insists the payments were for legitimate scouting and refereeing analysis services.
A 2024 court ruling dismissed "official bribery" charges against Barcelona, though an investigation into "sports corruption" remains open VAVEL. La Liga president Javier Tebas has backed Barcelona's position. "Barcelona did not bribe referees," Tebas said, accusing Pérez of "theater" to serve his own political interests.
Barcelona Invokes Slander Law to Demand a Public Retraction
Barcelona is using Article 205 of the Spanish Penal Code, which defines slander as a false accusation of a crime made with knowledge of its falsity Cadena SER. Under Spanish law, a conciliation demand is a required first step before filing a criminal complaint. It gives the accused a formal chance to back down.
If Pérez refuses to retract, Barcelona will file a criminal complaint seeking fines and a mandatory public apology VAVEL. Interim Barcelona president Rafa Yuste, who took over after Joan Laporta resigned on March 18 to trigger elections, addressed the club's Senate on June 9. He said: "The Barça crest is stained by no one. We will see each other in court."
What Comes Next: Courts, UEFA, and a Broken Alliance
Legal analysts say Barcelona's biggest hurdle will be proving that Pérez knew his claims were false when he made them Cadena SER. Pérez has vowed to "go to the end" on the matter. The criminal investigation into Barcelona's sports corruption has been extended until September 2026, giving Madrid's camp reason to hold firm.
The fallout goes beyond the courtroom. The former alliance between the two clubs — built around the European Super League project — is now considered dead after Pérez reached a peace deal with UEFA in February 2026 AS. Sponsors for both clubs are reportedly watching closely, as a criminal trial between both presidents could damage the commercial brand of El Clásico.
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