Madrid [Spain], May 14 : Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said that the relationship between his club and arch-rivals Barcelona is "completely broken", saying that he does not want to "keep any relationship with a club that has paid referees for two decades".
Following their 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the El Clasico, which caused the latter to secure their back-to-back La Liga title, Florentino has made accusations about the 29-time La Liga champions of paying former refereeing vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira for close to two decades.
During an interview with La Sexta, as quoted by Goal.com, Florentino was not holding back at all, as he labelled the allegations against Barca as the "biggest case of corruption in football" and how La Liga has done nothing about it.
"It is completely broken (relationship with FC Barcelona)," Perez stated. "I do not want to have a relationship with a club that has paid referees for two decades. I want them to pay for their actions, just as I would want for any other club. It is the biggest case of corruption in football. It is systemic corruption. Real Madrid is the only one that has appeared as a party. La Liga, on the other hand, says nothing," he added.
Madrid has been proactive in preparation for legal procedures, with the president saying that the club is ready to support their claims of unfair treatement and even went on to say that the rival club can sue him if they want to.
"We are going to present all the documentation to UEFA. 500 pages. It is very important documentation. We have made, year after year, all the points that have been taken from us in a blatant way. This year, they have taken between 16 and 18 points from us. If Barca wants to sue me, let them do it. I had not found out about the Negreira Case until three years ago. The first one who presents himself as a victim is Real Madrid. Then I realised that Barcelona had paid for more than two decades to the referees," he said.
On the other hand, Barcelona has launched an attack on Florentino, with the Barca vice-president Rafa Yuste saying that Florentino is "trying to cover up a sporting disaster that has been going on for two years", pointing to the club's recent lack of success.
"Florentino's words seemed pathetic and full of falsehoods to me. The club already issued a statement yesterday studying legal action, but I want to say that this manoeuvre by Florentino Perez to cover up a sporting disaster that has been going on for two years will not get him anywhere," he said as quoted by Goal.com.