Real Madrid celebrated a Christmas lunch banquet with the media in the basketball hall at the Real Madrid Sports City, where Florentino Pérez, the president of the royal club, presided over the event.

Pérez said: "Thank you for joining us in this gathering that has become a tradition during the Christmas period. First of all, I would like to wish you happy holidays with your families and loved ones, and may the new year 2026 bring you health, work, and happiness."

He added: "On an occasion like this, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your media work and your efforts in conveying Real Madrid’s news to all its fans. Since this club’s inception, we have always valued the work of the media and the relationship that has united us over time based on honesty, mutual respect, professionalism, and accuracy."

Regarding the Real Madrid Foundation: "This approach to facing the great challenges we encounter every season, we also try to convey to society through the Real Madrid Foundation. We say that our foundation is the spirit of our club because, thanks to it, we help 400,000 people annually in more than 100 countries. We bring hope to the most vulnerable groups in society, especially children at risk of social exclusion. Sport is a very powerful tool for solidarity, capable of uniting peoples and individuals wherever they are."

He emphasized: "It must also be said that the unity of Madridistas has allowed us to live through one of the most successful periods in our entire history over the past fifteen years. During this period, our club has won 58 titles: 30 in football and 28 in basketball, including 6 European cups in football and 3 European cups in basketball."

On refereeing: "Christmas is also a time to reflect on the issues that worry us. In our case, I tell you very clearly that Real Madrid’s biggest concern is the state of refereeing in Spain. It is a problem that has gone beyond our borders and has damaged the credibility and reputation of our competition."

He continued: "It is completely incomprehensible that football institutions leave Real Madrid alone in this battle. How can we be the only ones fighting for justice in this criminal case? And how can the head of the referees committee ask us to forget about it and turn the page? But how can we forget the biggest scandal in the history of world football? We never will."

He elaborated on the Negreira case: "How can the Spanish Football Federation and La Liga, which must ensure the integrity of the competition and strive for justice, behave this way? What is the reason for this laxity? I trust that one day we will know. The Federation and La Liga have a duty to protect the integrity of the competition so they don’t appear complicit in a case of such seriousness."

He continued: "There is no doubt that the Negreira case is the most serious problem facing football today, even internationally. As reported in recent days, we now know that more than 8 million euros were paid for technical reports on referees, the most expensive refereeing reports in the world, and worse, they were not even known by the coaches, who were supposed to be the beneficiaries."

He added: "Who can believe that millions of euros were paid for technical reports that were supposed to be useless because they were not even delivered to the coaches, who apparently were unaware of their existence in the first place? We are still living today with the repercussions of a case that tarnishes the image of our sport and highlights the need for a radical change in Spanish refereeing structures."

Regarding the incidents in the Alavés match: "And without going far, yesterday a VAR room referee was appointed who had threatened to take action against our club one day before a cup final. Can you imagine such a thing happening in any other country? As you saw yesterday, or in our previous match in Girona, it seems that the fouls suffered by Vinícius or Rodrygo in the last two away matches are not counted as penalties, and this is the ‘refereeing novelty’ of this season. We are sure that we are not the only club harmed by this case. It is possible that one club has already been relegated as a victim of the Negreira case."

He added: "The integrity and dignity of our sport are at stake. The image of our football has been seriously damaged, and therefore justice must be served, because only that will allow us all to revive Spanish football. Do not forget that the investigating judge described the case as systemic corruption. And you all know that former Barcelona officials publicly admitted in interviews that these payments were made because they were ‘appropriate’ for their club. Appropriate? Why? And for what purpose? Naturally, their coaches confirmed that they were unaware of these reports and did not need them."

Regarding Real Madrid’s stance on refereeing reform: "Real Madrid will continue to insist on this, given what our institution represents in the world of football and sport. And you, through the media, play a key role so that 2026 is the year when justice is finally achieved and the real renewal process of Spanish football begins."

He concluded: "Aside from this sad issue for everyone, we are very excited about the future of our club. We are witnessing the nearing completion of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium works, which impress everyone who visits it. The historic NFL league match contributed to showing the enthusiasm generated by the Bernabéu transformation, which has already become one of the leading icons in the world of sport and one of the main tourist attractions in Madrid. We are proud to contribute with our stadium to enhancing the status of our city and country."

He concluded: "On behalf of the Real Madrid board and personally, we wish you and your families a Merry Christmas, and that the new year brings health, happiness, and professional success to all."