Barcelona pushes Madrid boss to retract comments for November hearing

In the presidential box of the Bernabéu in April 2024, Florentino Pérez and Joan Laporta were photographed together, a moment that now contrasts sharply with the legal clash that has emerged, with a conciliation hearing set for 25 November at 9.40 h in Madrid.

The image, captured by JAVIER SORIANO for AFP, shows the two presidents still appearing to be on good terms; the accompanying audio was generated by artificial intelligence, underscoring the modern media backdrop to the dispute.

The open war between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid has entered a new judicial chapter, as the Madrid courts have fixed the date for the conciliatory act that will decide whether Pérez must withdraw his statements after the Barça‑filed defamation claim.

Pérez's controversial statements

On 12 May, Pérez addressed a press conference announcing his re‑election and launched a barrage of accusations, claiming he had won seven European Cups and seven league titles – “which could be fourteen because seven leagues were stolen from me” – and alleging that Real Madrid were denied up to 16 points last season because of the Negreira case.

FC Barcelona and Florentino Pérez invited to conciliation on 25/11

He went on to describe the Negreira scandal as “systemic” and “the biggest scandal in the history of football”, saying a 500‑page dossier would be sent to UEFA and that Madrid supporters stood with him in a war that, in his view, always left Barça benefitting.

Barcelona files defamation suit

The following day, Barcelona appeared on La Sexta before Josep Pedrerol and lodged a formal defamation lawsuit against Pérez, demanding a public retraction of his remarks at the upcoming conciliation act.

If Pérez, or his legal representative, does not retract, Barça will lodge a criminal complaint under article 205 of the Spanish Penal Code, turning the rivalry into a courtroom battle as well as a sporting one.