Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has shocked Spanish football by calling elections on Tuesday evening during a press conference called by the club. Perez was confirmed as the President last year until 2029, after running unopposed in the most recent elections.
Perez, 79, has been in charge of the club since 2009, when he overthrew Ramon Calderon, to take charge of his second spell. Prior to that, he was elected to power in 2000, before presenting his resignation in 2006. Over the past season, his leadership has been question in the Spanish capital, but few saw his power as threatened by any challengers.
Perez explains decision to call elections
Before taking questions, Perez announced that he would be calling elections, and gave his reasons for doing so.
“At Real Madrid, there isn’t just one owner; it’s the 1,000 members who make up the club. I’ve made this decision because an absurd situation has been created, provoked by campaigns against the interests of Real Madrid and against me. The results haven’t been the best, but in sports, you don’t always win. They’re taking advantage of the situation to attack me personally. They say, ‘Where’s Florentino?’ I don’t usually speak out. Some have even told me I have terminal cancer… I want to take this opportunity to let those who have been concerned about me know that I’m still president of Real Madrid and my company, and that my health is perfect. I couldn’t be in both places if my health weren’t perfect. If I had cancer, as has been said, I’d have to go to a cancer center. If I were, wouldn’t it have been all over the world?”
Florentino Perez takes shots at media reporting
A key theme of Perez’s press conference was his frustration with the media, and calling out ‘fake news’.
“ABC, a newspaper that loves me dearly: ‘Before the Board meeting, Florentino says, ‘I’m very tired.” “But do you think I say this before going in? David Sánchez de Castro, are you here? I’d like to say hello, to see why you published that. I get up early in the morning and go to bed last in the class; I work like a dog.”
More to follow.
