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The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) has lodged formal complaints against Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and Real Madrid TV in a bid to "combat any manifestation of violence, harassment or discrediting of refereeing."
The move follows yet another public broadside against Spanish referees from Pérez, who devoted a significant portion of his emergency press conference two weeks ago to attacking officials, as well as journalists and those in charge at La Liga and Barcelona.
While little of it came as a surprise from the polarizing Spaniard, Spain's Referees' Union is pushing back against his ongoing corruption allegations. "Complaints have been filed, respectively, against Mr. Pérez and against Real Madrid TV and Real Madrid CF, in line with AESAF's institutional policy of defending the dignity, integrity, and protection of Spanish referees," the referees stated in a press release.
"The Association believes that the repeated public statements, as well as the ongoing dissemination of content that systematically questions or discredits the refereeing community, contribute to eroding the climate of respect necessary for the proper conduct of sporting activity and may foster situations of tension, hostility or violence toward referees.
"To protect those who perform refereeing duties and ensure they can carry out their work in an environment of safety, respect, and coexistence. We reaffirm our commitment to using legal and institutional channels as a tool to combat any manifestation of violence, harassment, or discrediting of refereeing."
What Exactly Did Pérez Say?
Thousands tuned in to Pérez's rare press conference on May 12, expecting the president to shed light on Real Madrid's underwhelming season. There was speculation he would also confirm the anticipated appointment of José Mourinho, or at least address the widely reported altercation between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Instead, Pérez returned to familiar territory, accusing Spanish referees of bias against Los Blancos and revisiting the notorious Negreira case, alleging that Barcelona bribed former vice president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) refereeing committee José María Enríquez Negreira.
Pérez claimed there is "systemic corruption" among Spanish referees that traces back to the Negreira case, which he described as "the biggest corruption case in football history." The 79-year-old also announced the club is "compiling a 500-page dossier" to submit to UEFA regarding the alleged conspiracy.
Going even further, Pérez alleged that seven league titles "were stolen" from Real Madrid throughout his tenure, citing last season as the most recent example, highlighted by referee José Luis Munuera Montero issuing Jude Bellingham a straight red card for foul language.
What Role Does RMTV Play?
The complaint also names RMTV, the club's official television channel. Real Madrid regularly use the platform to spotlight what they consider refereeing mistakes, at times producing compilation videos to publicly call out officials.
Last season, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea was moved to tears ahead of the Copa del Rey final over a RMTV video highlighting the "incredible difference" in his decisions when officiating Barcelona matches compared to Real Madrid games.
"Look, we are talking a lot about Real Madrid TV videos and it is truth that it is a lot of media attention about it, but I am going to give you a few samples of things that are happening to colleagues and then you give me your opinion about it," he said.
"When your child goes to school and is told their father is a thief by other kids, that's really tough ... that's really tough and I won't wish that to anybody."
The conflict between the club and referees had been simmering long before last season's Copa del Rey final, and it shows no signs of cooling. With Barcelona also threatening legal action against Real Madrid, Spanish football's biggest clubs may soon find themselves fighting battles not only on the pitch, but in the courtroom as well.