Florentino Pérez faces four-match ban

Florentino Pérez, the Real Madrid president, is facing a disciplinary complaint in Spain after comments he made this week about referees prompted action from AESAF, the Spanish referees’ union. Mundo Deportivo reported on May 15 that AESAF had filed a legal brief with the disciplinary committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, or RFEF, over remarks Pérez made at a May 12 news conference. A follow-up Mundo Deportivo report on May 16 said the case could expose Pérez to sanctions ranging from a fine to a suspension from football-related activity. The reports said the most severe reading of the rules could bring a ban of one month to two years, or at least four matches, though the newspaper said a fine was the more likely outcome. ### What exactly did Pérez say that triggered the complaint? May 12 is the key date in the case. Mundo Deportivo said AESAF’s filing cited Pérez’s comments from that day, including his allegation that league titles had been “stolen,” his reference to “systemic corruption” over two decades, and his claim that referees had enriched themselves with Barcelona’s money. The filing also cited later comments in a La Sexta interview, according to the newspaper. (mundodeportivo.com) AESAF said in the filing, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, that the remarks went beyond ordinary criticism of officiating and amounted to accusations of continuing criminal conduct by the refereeing body. The union also asked for urgent measures requiring Pérez to stop making similar statements while the case is processed, the newspaper reported. (mundodeportivo.com) ### Who filed the complaint, and where did it go? AESAF, the referees’ union in Spain, submitted the complaint to the RFEF disciplinary committee on May 15, according to Mundo Deportivo. The filing asked the committee to review whether Pérez’s statements breached the federation’s disciplinary rules and to consider further steps, including notifying prosecutors about possible serious insults or defamation, the newspaper said. (mundodeportivo.com) The RFEF is the body with disciplinary authority over clubs, directors and other participants in Spanish football’s state-level competitions. The federation’s disciplinary code says its jurisdiction extends to clubs, players, coaches, directors, referees and other affiliated persons or entities operating in that sphere. ### Where does the “minimum four matches” figure come from? (mundodeportivo.com) Mundo Deportivo’s May 16 report pointed to article 94 of the RFEF disciplinary code. The newspaper said that provision covers notorious and public acts that damage sporting dignity or decorum and allows penalties including a fine of 602 to 3,006 euros, disqualification or suspension from one month to two years, or at least four matches. (rfef.es) The same report said article 106 offered a second, less severe route. That provision, as described by Mundo Deportivo, addresses statements that question the honesty or impartiality of referees or that use offensive or humiliating language toward them, with fines for directors, clubs or other entities. Mundo Deportivo said that outcome was “more normal,” meaning more likely than a suspension. That assessment was the newspaper’s, not an official RFEF ruling. (mundodeportivo.com) ### Is there an official federation decision yet? May 17 is the current point in the timeline, and no RFEF disciplinary ruling was visible in the federation material reviewed. The federation’s website includes the current disciplinary code, approved by the RFEF assembly and later by Spain’s sports authorities, but the reporting available here shows only that a complaint was filed and that sanctions are being discussed in media coverage. (mundodeportivo.com) Real Madrid’s official website pages reviewed here did not show a public response from the club to the AESAF complaint or to the sanction scenarios described by Mundo Deportivo. ### What should readers watch next? The next named body in the process is the RFEF disciplinary committee. If it opens or advances proceedings on AESAF’s May 15 filing, the key issues will be whether it treats Pérez’s remarks under article 94, which carries the suspension range cited by Mundo Deportivo, or under article 106, which the newspaper said more commonly leads to a financial penalty. (rfef.es) (realmadrid.com) A formal RFEF notice, an appeal filing, or a public statement from Real Madrid or AESAF would be the next concrete developments to watch in the case. (mundodeportivo.com)