Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has issued a powerful call for immediate action over the long-running corruption scandal involving the club's arch-rivals, Barcelona. Alonso's comments come in direct support of club president Florentino Perez, who has labelled the affair 'the biggest scandal in the history of football'.
The 'Negreira Case': A Three-Year Shadow Over Spanish Football
The criminal investigation, known as 'the Negreira case', is now approaching its third year. It centres on payments totalling €8.4 million (£7.3m) made by Barcelona to companies linked to former Spanish refereeing chief, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, between 2001 and 2018. While Barcelona president Joan Laporta maintains the payments were for scouting reports on match officials, and Negreira denies any bribery, the explanations have failed to satisfy their rivals in the Spanish capital.
Speaking at Real Madrid's Christmas media reception this week, a frustrated Florentino Perez demanded answers. "It is completely incomprehensible that the institutions have left Madrid alone in this fight," Perez argued. He questioned the inaction of La Liga and the Spanish football federation (RFEF), stating they have a duty to ensure integrity. Perez also raised the alarming possibility that "some club has been relegated as a victim" of the alleged corruption.
Alonso's Stark Warning: 'It isn't normal'
Ahead of Real Madrid's Copa del Rey tie against Talavera de la Reina, Xabi Alonso publicly aligned himself with the club's stance. "We share the position of the club and the president," Alonso affirmed. "The most important thing is that for the good of football, we need to find out the truth of what happened."
The former Spanish international went further, highlighting the damage to the sport's reputation. "Abroad, what happened here really surprises people, that there've been no consequences, or responsibility [taken]," Alonso stated. He delivered a blunt assessment of the situation: "It isn't normal, and it can't be taken as normal."
Laporta's Dismissive Response and the Title Race Context
When asked to respond to Perez's accusations, Barcelona's Joan Laporta was dismissive. He suggested Real Madrid were suffering from "acute Barcelonitis" and were "dragging out the Negreira issue with something that isn't working out for them."
The off-pitch drama unfolds as the two giants battle on it. Despite losing El Clasico at the end of October, Hansi Flick's Barcelona currently hold a four-point lead over Alonso's Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. This adds a layer of intense sporting rivalry to the already bitter institutional conflict, with both clubs set for Copa del Rey action before their final league fixtures of 2025.
