Sun Nov 24 14:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez Defends Club Amidst Controversies at Annual Assembly

**MADRID** – Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez addressed a packed assembly of club members, delivering a robust defense of the club’s performance and financial health while criticizing UEFA, FIFA, and the Ballon d’Or organization. The assembly, which included a tribute to victims of recent flooding, showcased a celebratory video highlighting the club’s achievements in the 2023-24 season. Players Kroos, Nacho, Joselu, Sergio Rodríguez, and Rudy Fernández received standing ovations from the assembled members.

Pérez highlighted the club’s strong financial position, boasting over €1 billion in revenue and a massive global following. He emphasized the successful completion of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium renovation, calling it a boon for both Madrid and Spain. The assembly overwhelmingly approved the club’s accounts, with only nine votes against the presented financial report.

However, a significant portion of Pérez’s address focused on criticizing several governing bodies. He slammed LaLiga’s lack of transparency regarding its deal with CVC, accusing them of attempting to “expropriate” the club’s commercial rights. He also voiced concerns over the increasing number of matches scheduled by UEFA and FIFA, citing the detrimental impact on player health and sustainability. He specifically criticized the newly formatted Champions League and the expanded Club World Cup.

The Ballon d’Or controversy took center stage, with Pérez arguing that Vinicius Junior, whom he called the world’s best player, was unjustly denied the award. He pointed to inconsistencies in the voting process, including the surprising lack of votes from certain countries. He called for reforms to restore the credibility of the award. He was backed up by Vice-President Pedro López Jiménez, who indirectly criticized Guardiola’s success rate in the Champions League.

Pérez reiterated his opposition to transforming Real Madrid into a public limited company, promising a future assembly and referendum on the club’s organizational structure to ensure it remains member-owned. Finally, he addressed concerns over stadium noise from concerts, emphasizing that while the club may host such events, they will prioritize adherence to municipal regulations.

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