Is Florentino Perez and Real Madrid involved in the referee scandal as Barcelona?

By | Niranjan Bhargav 13 Mar, 2023

Former LaLiga referee reveals Florentino Perez asked him to referee Madrid the same way as Barcelona

FC Barcelona have been charged of corruption as they are accused of hiring referees to make biased decision for the club. The investigation has found the club to have been paying referees a certain amount between the time period of 2001-2018.

The club is being accused of paying over €7 million to companies such as DASNIL 95 and NILSAT both of which are Negreira owned. However, the club has released a statement denying the allegations and claim that the payments were made to acquire scouting reports on referees in the LaLiga and nothing illegal.

Such reports were made for the players to have a better understanding of the laws of the game and how they should maintain conduct around referees.

What did Eduardo Iturralde say about Perez?

While in conversation with Cadena SER, former Spanish League referee, Iturralde recalled, “In a 6-1 match [of Real Madrid] against Deportivo [in 2010] or something like that, the game finished and we left the pitch with the assistants that went with me.”

“There was a person who put me in a separate room and told me: ‘I only ask you to referee us [Real Madrid] the same way as Barca’.

“He was from Real Madrid. I asked him to see if he’s making a joke and told him that the conversation is over. He wanted to put me alone in the room, but I told him no.

“After half an hour, the Technical Committee of Referees already knew about that. I ??brought it to their attention, it seemed very serious to me. But nothing followed. Those on Real Madrid TV are good journalists, let them investigate the matter. I’m going to make their job easier.

“It did not happen to me afterwards; no other president has ever put me in a separate room. I care about the facts. The one who did it to me was Florentino Perez. I don’t have to hide it. It happened. There is a CTA [Technical Committee of Referees] report, because I made it clear.

“Let people see what it means to put pressure. There is nothing to hide,” Iturralde concluded.

Whether the story is true or not, will be interesting to find out. However, such things must not come as a surprise. Last season, during what was an important Champions League knock-out tie between Real Madrid and PSG, Real Madrid eliminated the Parisians in a controversial manner. As the match ended, PSG chiefs were seen running towards the tunnel to look for the match officials.

It’s all part of the modern game. At the end of the day, some things remain well hidden while others are out in the public eye.