Florentino Perez doubles down: 'Barcelona would do very well to sue me'

"“Barça would do very well to sue me. If they think they have to do it, let them do it,” he said. However, he did try to soften his earlier claim about referees “enriching themselves,” calling it a figure of speech."

"The crux of Pérez's argument is the so-called Negreira case. Barcelona has admitted to paying a the VP of the Technical Committee of Referees (José María Enríquez Negreira) in the past, causing a firestorm of legal trouble. It's an ongoing court case where the truth is murky at the moment. No public evidence has proven that referees were bribed or influenced by the payments - but the club has not been exonerated of the charge, either."

"Despite Barçà's insistence that the payments were for legitimate technical reports, Pérez alleged those reports were a cover “to fight against Madrid, with reports that do not exist.”"

"Before this latest interview aired, Barçà vice president Rafa Yuste had already labeled Pérez's behavior as “pathetic and full of falsehoods.” The club is reportedly meticulously studying legal avenues to protect its honor. These latest attacks come just as Real Madrid was swatted away 2-0 by Barcelona to win the league title, in a title clinching version of El Clasico."

Real Madrid President Pérez refused to retract aggressive accusations made about Barcelona’s league trophy wins. He said Barcelona should sue if it believes it must, and he softened earlier language about referees “enriching themselves” by calling it a figure of speech. His argument centers on the Negreira case, in which Barcelona admitted paying José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees. The matter remains in court, with no public proof shown that referees were bribed or influenced, and Barcelona has not been fully cleared. Pérez alleged the payments were a cover using reports that do not exist. Barcelona officials condemned the remarks as falsehoods and pursued legal options, amid heightened tensions after a 2-0 El Clasico league title win.

Read at Barca Blaugranes