Xabi Alonso Supports Investigation of Referee Scandal Involving Barcelona

JAKARTA - Xabi Alonso supports the call of Real Madrid President Florentino Perez for fairness in the investigation of the scandal of former Vice President of the Referee Committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, with Barcelona.

The Los Blancos manager said that for the good of football, it was necessary to find out the truth of what happened.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta - as well as former coaches Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde - gave testimony as witnesses on Friday, December 12, 2025, local time, to the judge leading the investigation into payments of more than 7 million euros (around Rp137.2 billion) made by Barcelona to former Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018.

On Monday, December 15, 2025, local time, Florentino Perez criticized the Spanish referee and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in a speech during the club's Christmas reception for the media. He called Negreira's case the biggest scandal in the history of football.

Perez argued that Spanish football had left (Real Madrid) alone in facing this problem. He added that Negreira's investigation highlighted the need for radical change and suggested that there was a possibility that clubs would be relegated as a consequence of the case.

"We share the position of the club and the president. The most important thing is for the good of football, we need to find out the truth of what happened," Alonso said in a press conference on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, ahead of Real Madrid's trip to Talavera de la Reina in the Copa del Rey.

The criminal investigation into Negreira's case has been ongoing for 2.5 years, with judge Alejandra Gil now set to decide whether the case should proceed to a full trial or not.

Barcelona have admitted that payments were made to a company linked to Negreira, but Laporta reiterated in his testimony last week that the payments were made in return for reports of the referee's observations.

"We are all human beings and make mistakes. However, here, there is a case that needs to be investigated. What happened here really shocked people that there was no consequence or responsibility (taken)."

"That's why it's so important to find out what happened. This is not normal and cannot be considered normal," said Alonso.

Earlier on Tuesday, the newly formed Spanish Referees Association, AESAF, issued a statement criticizing Perez for his comments about the field referees. The union stressed that no referee was investigated or prosecuted during Negreira's investigation.

"It's normal that everyone defends their own interests," Alonso said when asked about the statement.

Apart from that, Alonso's position as coach has been questioned after a series of disappointing results and performances despite Real Madrid bouncing back with a 2-1 win at home to Alaves on Monday, December 15, 2025, early morning WIB.

Most recently, they managed to beat Talavera (a Spanish fourth division team) with a narrow score of 3-2 in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, December 18, 2025, early morning WIB.

"The situation before and after (the match against Alaves) is the same. We have very good communication, we are together in this."

"Xabi who came in June 2025 is not the same as Xabi now. The point is, yes, but it's about learning, adapting, getting to know (the squad)."

"I think the same goes for the players. If we are a better team in March than we are now, that's good news, and at the end of the season, even better," said Alonso.