Perez, pictured at the Bernabeu on Saturday
“There was widespread anger and upset among Real Madrid supporters at the Bernabeu this weekend — and club president Florentino Perez was among those in their sights. Madrid fans arrived for Saturday’s home match with Levante keen to vent their fury, after a very dramatic week for the Spanish giants. Last Monday afternoon, Xabi Alonso was sacked as manager following the previous night’s Supercopa de Espana final defeat by Clasico rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia. His replacement, Alvaro Arbeloa, then suffered a humiliating 3-2 defeat at second division Albacete in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, his first match in charge. …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)
Barcelona, Real Madrid and the €8.4m Negreira payments: A shadow over El Clasico
“It is almost three years since payments totalling €8.4million (£7.2m; $9.7m) made by Barcelona to former Spanish referees committee vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira first came to light. A Barcelona court has been investigating the payments sent between 2001 and 2018 to companies connected to Negreira, and the coming months may see the case move forward into a criminal trial, which could eventually bring jail time for those involved if they are found guilty. …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)
YouTube: Why did Barcelona pay the Head of Referees?
“It is almost three years since a stark verdict was delivered on the chaotic scenes that preceded the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. ‘It is remarkable that no one lost their lives,’ concluded an independent review of that fraught evening that ended with Real Madrid beating Liverpool. UEFA, as event organisers, was found to 
“On the patch of grass where it all began, it’s amazing how little has changed in the 60 years or so since the people in this street could look out their front windows and, unbeknown to them, watch a wonderful story taking shape. If you have never been to Viewpark, 10 miles east of Glasgow, you might not appreciate the history. You might barely notice the rectangular strip of grass, surrounded on three sides by pebbledashed terraced houses, in a street called Woodview. The entire scene might seem insignificant — until, that is, you consider the identities of some of the players who used to trample down the grass here as young boys. …”
Scissors Kick 