Florentino Pérez is Transforming Spanish Football with Bold Moves!

During the major general assembly, Florentino Perez made a strong statement. The president of Real Madrid used his opening speech to provide a financial and sporting assessment of the club, touching on several events from the past year, including the new Santiago Bernabeu, departures of legendary players, and new arrivals. However, it was his combative tone regarding the state of Spanish football that stood out: “I have heard that Real Madrid is against everything, which is not true. We tend to react more than we should. It is abnormal and illegal to prevent clubs from organizing their own tournaments. It’s not right for UEFA to dictate our fate and enforce competition formats that hurt fans. Remember, their leaders are accountable to voters. That’s why we have to play matches in Asia, near China. It shouldn’t be getting more expensive to watch football on TV in the 21st century, especially when technology allows for free formats.“

Referees and Spanish Media Come Under Fire

Perez emphasized Real Madrid’s role in fighting for global football: “Let me explain why Real Madrid should lead this battle. It is perhaps the only club in Europe with the strength to take on this challenge. There are more Real Madrid supporters worldwide than there are residents in the European Union. We are the most decorated and financially prestigious club. Our strength lies in being a large family united by values rooted in the history of Real Madrid. We have nothing to fear. We respect all rules. You can’t pressure us with rejected registrations. Unfortunately, this is not the case for most clubs; many struggle to survive. We all know that it’s easier in the championship when following the president’s decisions. Many clubs privately ask us to keep fighting. That is normal.“

The 78-year-old leader did not shy away from criticizing FC Barcelona, referencing the Negreira case, and accused Spanish referees and some media of being against Real Madrid: “The level of refereeing in Spain is unacceptable. It is outrageous that FIFA did not select any Spanish referee for the recent Club World Cup. And, of course, it’s unacceptable that Barcelona paid over €8 million to the vice-president of referees for at least 17 years for any reason. This vice-president held significant positions during a time when Barcelona excelled in Spain. It’s not right for the league president to mortgage our clubs’ futures for 50 years with an investment fund (CVC). It’s not normal that La Liga charges six times more than the Premier League. Moreover, it is troubling that La Liga allocates a budget to media outlets. Some media were created solely to harm Real Madrid, like Relevo. Their lack of transparency is even more concerning. Their president has refused to share this information with us. It’s also abnormal that La Liga keeps losing millions of euros of our money with the failed Legends Museum meant to justify media investments. Ultimately, it is abnormal for football to be governed by those only seeking to maintain their privileges.“

Javier Tebas Also Faces Criticism

Florentino Pérez hasn’t held back on Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, in his tirade: “It’s unusual for the La Liga president to promote a match outside of Spain. Even the captain of FC Barcelona, Frenkie de Jong, finds this strange. Similarly, it is unusual for La Liga to offer bonuses to two teams, Barcelona and Villarreal, to play in Miami. We must tolerate Mr. Tebas comparing this to an NFL game. The NFL event occurred smoothly and legally; the comparison is absurd because he has the support of all competition clubs. This is not the case with the Miami match, which lacks UEFA’s backing. This is merely another attempt by the league president to impose his will.“

“The agreement with CVC has made many clubs realize that losing part of their revenue for 50 years threatens their futures. We believe this agreement will be overturned by the courts. Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid have already filed complaints. I’m sorry to mention that Barcelona also opposed it but conveniently dropped their lawsuit once La Liga allowed player registrations. Besides Spain, CVC has only succeeded in France, and the French league is bankrupt. All clubs lose in this operation, known as the Impulse project. I must point out that Tebas multiplied his salary at the expense of the funds necessary for his clubs’ survival. It is now up to you to determine the responsibility of each party. The La Liga president acted on his own initiative and at his own risk. He compromised the integrity of the league and must be held accountable. It’s a shame,” he continued.

Before wrapping up with various account approvals and reports, Pérez directed another attack at Tebas: “Look at how La Liga managed the players’ protests. We all witnessed the shameful censorship of La Liga. I don’t know what was more embarrassing: the 30-second delay or hiding behind a supposed commitment to peace. They take us for fools. They have lost their minds. Such behavior would not be tolerated in a European championship and would lead to the president’s dismissal. It is also improper for the La Liga president to be vice-president of RFEF. And let me tell you: the president asked me to join the Federation. I had to reply, ‘You don’t know me.’ Regardless of the conflict, it is undeniable that these positions should be overseen by people who are unbiased and without phobias.“

UEFA Also Under Scrutiny

“Finally, let’s talk about the Super League. It is essential. We dismantled a monopolistic regime of over 60 years in record time. In 2021, UEFA threatened clubs with expulsion and opened disciplinary proceedings against us to exclude us from the Champions League. Today, facing overwhelming decisions, the situation is radically different. In response, La Liga and UEFA downplay the decisions. They only think about easing tensions. They take us for fools. They ruled in our favor on 21 out of 23 points, and they are paying the price… No one can punish us for working for our future. Our strong case allows us to claim damages from UEFA for the harm suffered. We have sued UEFA for compensation and the right to organize the competition in the future. Our goal is not just to win but to make our demands known. I want to thank the organizing teams for their efforts. We tried to reach an agreement, but it proved impossible. UEFA encouraged us to approach the ECA, which demands we drop any legal action against UEFA. This could cost us billions we intend to claim.“

In any case, Florentino Pérez was determined to clarify matters with all players in global football: “What we want is transparency. No behind-closed-doors competition. Above all, we want free television for football. We did it during the Club World Cup. Thanks to FIFA, a poor child in Africa was able to watch the matches. We have Unify, which would allow us to broadcast matches for free. At least FIFA understands this is the way forward. I must commend them for that. The only reason UEFA would refuse is that delaying their decision by a year means another year of exorbitant salaries for them. This is the case for the La Liga president, whose salary exceeds that of his Premier League counterpart, despite generating far less revenue. We have won the legal battle, and we will win the next ones. Because this is the best project for everyone. They have all acknowledged this privately.“