The Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF) has announced the presentation to the Competition Committee of a request for a disciplinary file against for accusing “the refereeing establishment of systemic corruption, theft of titles and illicit enrichment” during the press conference it offered on May 12 and in the interview broadcast by La Sexta the day after.
“The AESAF considers that these statements cannot be supported by the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or sports criticism, given that Mr. Pérez does not limit himself to pointing out specific arbitration errors, but attributes to the Arbitration Body the perpetration of a continuous crime of corruption for two decades.
Furthermore, the AESAF emphasizes that the president of Real Madrid acts at all times as the highest institutional representative of one of the most media-intensive clubs in the world, which amplifies the harmful impact of his words and increases his responsibility,” the organization says in a statement. “The AESAF also requests that the Competition Committee adopt a precautionary and urgent request to Mr. Pérez to cease issuing statements of a similar nature while the procedure is being processed; that their obligation to compensate the Arbitration Collective for the moral, reputational and professional damage caused be declared; and that the issuance of a public statement of rectification and apology is required,” he adds.
They also explain that they have waited for the conclusion of the LALIGA EA Sports weekday to publish the note and believe that what was said by the president of the white club “a serious, unjustified and systematic attack on the professional and institutional honor of the Arbitration Collective, without support in any firm judicial resolution.”
