Mundo Deportivo reported on the complaint that the referees’ union AESAF submitted to the Disciplinary Committee of the RFEF following comments made by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez during last Tuesday’s press conference, in which he made accusations against the refereeing establishment, speaking of “robbery or corruption.”
The union believes that these statements “cannot be protected under the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression or sports criticism, since Mr. Pérez is not merely pointing out isolated refereeing mistakes, but rather accusing the Refereeing Body of carrying out an ongoing crime of corruption over two decades.”
We will see what decision the RFEF disciplinary body adopts. According to the RFEF Disciplinary Code, the Real Madrid president faces two different possible scenarios. In the most severe case, he could be suspended from one month to two years under Article 94, which concerns notorious and public acts that violate sporting dignity and decorum. The article states that “notorious and public acts that violate sporting dignity or decorum shall be sanctioned as a serious offense, and the sanction imposed, as determined by the competent disciplinary body according to the rules contained in the present regulations, may consist of a fine ranging from €602 to €3,006, suspension or disqualification for a period from one month to two years or for at least four matches, or total closure from one match to two months.”
However, this is considered the most extreme scenario. The most likely outcome is simply a financial fine under Article 106, concerning “Statements made through any medium about members of the refereeing collective or members of regulatory guarantee bodies.” The article states that “any person subject to sporting discipline who makes statements through any medium that question the honesty and impartiality of any member of the refereeing collective or RFEF bodies, as well as statements showing disapproval of the activity of any member of the aforementioned groups when expressed with contempt or using offensive, insulting, humiliating, or abusive language, shall be sanctioned.”
In the case of “directors, clubs, or any other person or entity,” the fine would range from €601 to €3,005.06.
