Florentino Pérez and Barcelona face Madrid court hearing on 25 November

Florentino Pérez and FC Barcelona are due at a Madrid court at 9:40 on 25 November for the conciliation hearing the club requested over the Real Madrid president's remarks about the Negreira case. The hearing is listed for Courts 1 and 2, according to Mundo Deportivo and SPORT.

The hearing is a required step before a criminal complaint. The board led by Joan Laporta says it will withdraw if Pérez publicly retracts. If he does not, the club will file a criminal complaint for alleged slander under article 205 of the Penal Code. Its legal department is headed by Pere Lluis Mellado.

The dispute goes back to the press conference of 12 May, where Pérez called Real Madrid's elections, and to an interview that followed. In it he said:

"I've been here I don't know how many seasons and I've only won seven European Cups and seven Leagues, which could have been 14, because seven Leagues have been stolen from me," Pérez said.

He also said Barcelona "always come out benefiting" and that he had not come "so that referees get rich off Barcelona's money". Barcelona's version of the remarks, as reported, is that they damage the club's image and reputation.

Real Madrid have not stood still. About a month after Pérez spoke, the club's lawyers asked Barcelona for documents on its compliance system for 2010-2018, as reported earlier.

If Pérez does not retract on 25 November, this may mean the case moves from a preliminary hearing to a formal criminal complaint. The Negreira case would then be argued in court, not in press conferences.