Resolute response from the referees to Florentino Pérez

Refereeing controversy is once again at the center of Spanish football following the latest statements by Florentino Pérez. The Real Madrid president took advantage of the club's Christmas cocktail with the press to strongly criticize refereeing and FC Barcelona in light of the Negreira case, calling it "the biggest scandal in the history of football".

Florentino Pérez's accusation that ignited the refereeing debate

During his speech, Florentino Pérez was especially critical of certain refereeing decisions and recalled an alleged prior threat from Pablo González before a Copa del Rey final.

“The referee who had threatened us before a Cup final officiated our game. And what about the trips on Vinícius and Rodrygo? They’re not penalties, that’s the novelty this season”

These statements reignited the refereeing controversy and generated a strong media impact, coming directly from the highest leader of Real Madrid, one of the most powerful clubs in Spanish football.

The Resounding Statement from the Referees Against the Real Madrid President

On Tuesday, the Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) issued an official statement to express its rejection of Florentino Pérez's words. In the text, the association states "its rejection of the recent public statements by the president of Real Madrid due to the serious damage that these types of remarks cause to the reputation of the refereeing collective and Spanish football".

The AESAF was blunt in stating that "arbitration cannot be used as an excuse to justify sporting results" and recalled that "in football, you win and lose on the field of play".

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE REFEREES

• The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) expresses its rejection of the recent public statements by the president of Real Madrid, Mr. Florentino Pérez, due to the serious harm such manifestations cause to the reputation of the refereeing community and Spanish football.

  • The Spanish refereeing community acts with independence, rigor, and professionalism, and is not part of any plot or collusion with the interests of clubs or directors.

  • In the so-called Negreira Case, no referee has been investigated or charged throughout the entire investigation period. We cannot accept the accusation of corruption against referees as valid.

  • Generalized accusations against referees unjustly damage the reputation of professionals who perform their duties under maximum pressure and constant public scrutiny, and undermine the integrity of the competition itself.

  • We understand that refereeing cannot be used as an excuse to justify sporting results. Football is won and lost on the field of play.

  • AESAF expresses its support for colleague Pablo González Fuertes and all male and female referees in Spain, whose professional and personal work deserves institutional and social respect. We reject any attempt to personalize attacks or publicly delegitimize referees without justification.

  We wish to state that the accusation of threats made at the press conference for the final of the Copa SSMM el Rey of the 2024-25 season is not in line with reality, and is, to say the least, false.

  • AESAF warns that any public statement made from positions of influence has a direct impact on the culture of football and refereeing, and leads – directly or indirectly – to episodes of violence and aggression against referees at all levels.

  • For months, AESAF has maintained an open, receptive, and constructive dialogue with representatives of professional clubs to improve the competition through impartial refereeing.

  The Spanish Association of Football Referees reminds that refereeing constitutes an essential guarantee of impartiality and fairness in competition. Generally linking the refereeing community with alleged scandals, without judicial backing or concrete evidence, erodes trust in the system and harms Spanish football as a whole.

  We wish to state that the statements made at the press conference for the final of the Copa SSMM el Rey of the 2024-25 season by the referees of the match were intended to highlight that violence against referees and their families in all categories of Spanish football was reaching unacceptable levels, and that as a consequence of this, among other causes, the community decided to form this union. In no case, as can be seen in the images, was there a threat against any club, as Real Madrid wishes to imply.

  It is very serious that this club maintains claims that are far from reality, and which can create an unsportsmanlike climate in the Spanish competition.

  In relation to the so-called Negreira Case, AESAF fully respects the work of the judicial authorities and emphasizes that it is a procedure still in progress. To date, there is no charge or investigation against referees throughout the entire investigation period, so it is essential to preserve the principle of presumption of innocence and avoid statements that may lead to erroneous conclusions in public opinion.

  In our opinion, it is equally serious to maintain the accusation that referees have made decisions in favor of one club, or, as a second line of argument, to accuse referees of potentially making decisions to penalize another club. These types of statements generate an environment detrimental to the normal development of the competition.

  AESAF considers the instrumentalization of refereeing as an argument to explain sporting situations to be particularly concerning. As stated by the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Mr. Rafael Louzán, clubs should not attribute their results to referees or seek external justification in refereeing.

  We appreciate, and encourage them to make public, the expressions of support that we are receiving from the RFEF, LaLiga, the AFE, clubs, players, and coaches. We believe that through unity, we can improve the competition and restore the prestige it deserves.

  Likewise, the Association considers it necessary to recall that public statements made by directors, clubs, or highly visible figures are not made in a vacuum, but rather generate an immediate echo in society and in football culture. When this discourse is built on the permanent delegitimization or suspicion of refereeing, it ends up spilling over onto the fields, into the stands, and into grassroots football, where it unfortunately manifests in the form of insults, threats, and aggressions against male and female referees.

  AESAF notes that this phenomenon does not distinguish between categories: it occurs from formative football to professional football. Therefore, the Association insists on the need for institutional responsibility and exemplary leadership from all football stakeholders to halt a spiral that jeopardizes the physical, psychological, and reputational integrity of those who guarantee the fair development of the competition. We expressly support the efforts being made by the RFEF with institutions and authorities to protect the authority of the referee.

  Finally, AESAF highlights that it has been participating for months in the Refereeing Reform Commission, a constant dialogue, promoted by the RFEF, in which representatives of professional clubs participate, listening to proposals, analyzing concerns, and working critically and constructively, always with the aim of strengthening the competition and Spanish football through impartial, professional, and transparent refereeing. Real Madrid was absent from the last meeting.

  AESAF continues to work permanently on the training, professionalization, and continuous improvement of the refereeing community, in collaboration with the RFEF, LaLiga, and international organizations. The application of tools such as VAR and review protocols helps to reinforce transparency and reduce the margin of human error inherent in any sport.

  “From AESAF, we reaffirm our commitment to the comprehensive protection of the refereeing community and to the defense of its dignity and professionalism. We call for institutional responsibility, respect, and exemplary leadership towards those who guarantee the impartiality of the competition.”

  The Spanish Association of Football Referees rejects unfounded accusations and reiterates its commitment to independence, transparency, and the constant improvement of refereeing in Spain. Football needs responsible institutions that add credibility and respect, not discourse that erodes trust and fuels a climate of confrontation with real consequences for the refereeing community.

  AESAF, Spanish Association of Football Referees, is a legally constituted trade union and association (BOE, June 2025). Its mission is to defend, support, and professionalize the refereeing community in Spain, ensuring legal protection, well-being, training, and institutional representation.

The defense of the refereeing collective and the AESAF's final message

In relation to the accusations against Pablo González, the referee union shared the official's previous statements and made it clear that "in these statements, it cannot be observed that our colleague threatens any club or institution."

Officially established last June, the AESAF argued that "generalized accusations against referees unfairly harm the reputation of professionals who carry out their work under maximum pressure," closing ranks in defense of a group that once again finds itself in the spotlight after the words of the Real Madrid president.