Barcelona vs Florentino Perez: Madrid court sets November date for conciliation hearing | OneFootball

The legal dispute between Real Madrid and Barcelona is moving into another phase, as the Madrid courts have now set a date for the conciliation hearing requested by the Joan Laporta-led board against Florentino Perez.

According to SPORT, Barcelona and the Real Madrid president have been summoned to appear at 9:40 a.m. on November 25 at Courts 1 and 2 of Madrid. 

It is to be remembered that Barcelona initiated the process after taking issue with comments made by the Real Madrid president about the club and the Negreira case.

However, the dispute has gone well beyond Perez’s original remarks ever since. 

As reported before, a month after Perez’s explosive remarks, Real Madrid’s legal team has sought documentation from Barcelona relating to its compliance system during the 2010-2018 period.

Real Madrid seeks Barcelona documents in ongoing case

Barcelona’s decision to pursue legal action against Perez followed comments he made during a press conference on May 12 and an interview the following day.

The Real Madrid president accused Barcelona of maintaining a relationship with refereeing officials over an extended period, comments that prompted a strong response from the Catalan club.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are embroiled in a legal battle. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“The relationship with Barça is completely broken. When I found out about this, I didn’t want to have any dealings with a club that has been paying referees for two decades.

“We are the ones who have been wronged,” said the Real Madrid president.

Barcelona subsequently instructed its legal department, headed by Pere Lluis Mellado, to examine its options. 

On June 12, the Blaugrana club announced that it had filed a mandatory conciliation claim against Perez, with the possibility of a criminal complaint for slander also referenced.

Real Madrid’s response has included its own requests in connection with the judicial proceedings.

The club’s legal team has asked the judge overseeing the case to require Barcelona to provide documentation concerning its compliance system between 2010 and 2018.

Real Madrid have also taken the Negreira issue to UEFA

Notably, the legal dispute is taking place against the backdrop of the Negreira case, which has remained a major point of contention between the two Spanish giants.

Perez has admitted that the relationship with Barcelona is completely broken. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

On top of that, Real Madrid have also urged UEFA to strip Barcelona of titles won during the period covered by the Negreira scandal.

As such, that request is a separate sporting avenue from the judicial proceedings in Madrid. Whether it produces any sporting or legal consequences remains uncertain, with no final decision having been reached.

Simply put, the matter in question is that Real Madrid consider themselves to have been harmed by the circumstances surrounding the Negreira affair and have continued to pursue the issue through the appropriate channels.

November hearing could be key

The November 25 conciliation hearing now provides the next significant date in the dispute.

Barcelona’s original claim followed Perez’s comments, while Real Madrid’s requests for documentation and its UEFA position show that the confrontation has gone beyond mere exchange of words.

The Madrid court will now hear the parties as part of the conciliation process, and whether that leads to an agreement or allows Barcelona to pursue the criminal complaint it has referenced remains to be determined.