Spanish Referees' Association Responds to Pérez: "Refereeing Cannot Be Used as an Excuse to Justify Results... Football is Played on the Pitch"

The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) issued a strongly worded statement, defending itself against remarks made by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez during the club's assembly and at the Christmas Cup with the media, where he launched an attack on the refereeing body.

Florentino Pérez directly addressed referees and the Negreira case, stating: "We are still living with the repercussions of a case that tarnishes the image of our sport and highlights the need for a radical change in Spanish refereeing structures."

These statements were not well-received by the referees, prompting the association to respond forcefully, saying: "We reject Florentino Pérez's recent statements due to the serious damage such remarks cause to the reputation of the refereeing community and Spanish football."

The association also defended itself against the accusations, asserting: "We are not part of any conspiracy or collusion with the interests of clubs or officials. In the alleged Negreira case, no referee has been investigated or charged throughout the investigation period, and we cannot accept the accusation of corruption directed at the character of referees."

The referees' association strongly rebutted Real Madrid's criticisms, especially given the club's current crisis in terms of results, emphasizing: "We recognize that refereeing cannot be used as an excuse to justify sporting results; football is won and lost on the pitch."

In the same context, the association expressed its full support for referee Pablo González Fuertes, who has faced widespread criticism from Real Madrid fans since his press conference preceding the 2024–25 Copa del Rey final, which almost led to the royal club's non-attendance, in addition to accusations of not calling García Verdura to review a potential penalty for Vinicius in last Sunday's match.

Regarding the Negreira case, the association affirmed its full respect for the work of judicial authorities, noting that proceedings are still ongoing. It clarified that, to date, no referee has been charged or investigated throughout the inquiry, necessitating the preservation of the principle of presumption of innocence and the avoidance of statements that could lead to false conclusions among the public.

The association deemed it extremely serious to accuse referees of making decisions in favor of one club or to punish another, asserting that such statements create an environment detrimental to the natural development of competition.