Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste has launched a scathing attack on Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, dismissing recent allegations of refereeing corruption as a smokescreen for sporting failure. Speaking ahead of Barcelona's fixture against Alaves, Yuste rejected Perez's contentious claims that numerous trophies have been "stolen" from the capital club, describing the rhetoric as factually baseless and designed to deflect from Madrid's domestic struggles.
The escalating feud centres on Perez's extraordinary assertion that Real Madrid should have won double their current tally of La Liga titles, with the president suggesting seven championships were unfairly taken from the club. Yuste directly countered this narrative, stating: "Seven Leagues stolen? This is a total falsehood." The Barcelona executive emphasised that his club's recent domestic dominance reflects genuine sporting merit, not advantageous refereeing decisions. "We have won two Leagues with a project featuring La Masia players and others who have arrived from outside," Yuste explained, highlighting Barcelona's squad construction strategy.
Legal Response Underway
Barcelona has initiated formal legal proceedings to address the allegations, which relate to payments made to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, a former refereeing official. The club maintains that all financial transactions were legitimate compensation for technical reports. Yuste confirmed that the legal department is actively investigating the matter and will provide updates as developments emerge. The Catalan club has signalled its willingness to defend itself vigorously in court if necessary, framing the situation as a matter of institutional integrity.
Yuste's frustration extends beyond the sporting accusations. He characterised Perez's press conference as a deliberate distraction from Real Madrid's two-year period of reduced domestic silverware relative to Barcelona's resurgence. "This maneuver by Florentino Perez to cover up a sporting disaster that has lasted for two years will lead him nowhere," Yuste stated, suggesting the allegations represent a tactical deflection from poor management decisions.
Notably, Yuste distinguished between Perez's personal conduct and the professionalism exhibited by other Real Madrid officials, including honorary president Pirri and executive Emilio Butragueno. This distinction underscores the personal nature of the dispute whilst maintaining diplomatic relations at institutional level. As Barcelona prepare for their upcoming La Liga challenge, the club appears determined to let results on the pitch speak louder than boardroom exchanges, with the legal process proceeding independently of competitive action.
