Fermin Lopez Rejects Florentino Perez’s ‘Stolen La Liga Titles’ Claims, Cites Messi, Xavi and Iniesta as Proof

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ignited a fresh wave of controversy in Spanish football by publicly accusing Barcelona of having “stolen” several La Liga titles, referencing the ongoing Negreira refereeing scandal and alleging that corrupt officiating had repeatedly disadvantaged his club — both historically and during the current season.

The remarks, which drew widespread attention across Spanish media, prompted a direct response from Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez. Speaking in an interview with Que Thi Jugues, Lopez dismissed Perez’s allegations outright, pointing to the calibre of players representing Barcelona during the period in question as evidence that no foul play was necessary.

“What Florentino Perez has said cannot be true because Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez were playing,” Lopez stated. “It is impossible that Barcelona have stolen league titles.”

The Negreira case, which sits at the centre of Perez’s accusations, refers to a long-running legal and institutional investigation into payments made by Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice-president of Spain’s refereeing committee. The case has overshadowed the club for several years and continues to generate debate about sporting integrity in La Liga.

Perez has previously made clear his belief that officiating decisions this season have cost Real Madrid significantly, and his latest comments represent an escalation of that position into direct accusations of historical title theft against their fiercest domestic rivals.

For Lopez, however, the off-field dispute has not distracted from what has been a productive personal campaign. The midfielder has contributed to 30 goals for the La Liga champions across the current season — a figure that underlines his growing importance to the Barcelona squad.

Barcelona are set to close out their league season with two remaining fixtures: a home match against Real Betis on Sunday, 17 May, followed by an away trip to Valencia six days later.

The exchange between Lopez and Perez reflects broader tensions that have defined the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry in recent years, with the Negreira investigation continuing to cast a shadow over the Catalan club’s recent successes. How Spanish football’s governing bodies ultimately address the substance of Perez’s claims — and whether the Negreira case produces definitive legal findings — will likely determine whether this dispute extends beyond the current season.