Real Madrid and Barcelona Set for Conciliation Hearing in Defamation Dispute

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Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are set to appear before a Madrid court on November 25 for a conciliation hearing linked to a potential defamation lawsuit brought by the Catalan club against Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, according to sources cited by Spanish media.

The hearing represents the latest development in an increasingly tense dispute between the two Spanish football giants. It follows a legal request filed by Barcelona on June 12 in response to remarks made by Pérez the previous month concerning the club's conduct and Spanish refereeing.

Barcelona seeks withdrawal of disputed remarks

Barcelona initiated the conciliation process after Pérez publicly referred to alleged efforts by the Catalan club to secure favorable treatment from referees. The Real Madrid president connected his comments to the long-running controversy surrounding former Spanish refereeing official José María Enríquez Negreira.

Negreira, who served as vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees, received payments from Barcelona over a number of years. The matter has become one of the most closely watched legal and institutional controversies surrounding Spanish football.

Barcelona has rejected the characterization of its conduct contained in Pérez's statements. When announcing its legal action in June, the club said it wanted the Real Madrid president to retract the comments, which it described as false, defamatory and damaging to its reputation.

Conciliation comes before potential criminal complaint

The November hearing is intended to provide an opportunity for the parties to resolve the dispute before further legal action is pursued. Such a conciliation procedure can serve as a preliminary step before a complaint is formally brought before the courts.

Barcelona has indicated that it could proceed with a criminal defamation complaint against Pérez if the attempt at conciliation fails.

The dispute adds another legal dimension to the long-running rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona, whose institutional tensions have frequently extended beyond competition on the pitch. The upcoming hearing will therefore be closely followed within Spanish football as the two clubs assess whether the dispute can be settled without further judicial proceedings.