New legal blow for Real Madrid!

Real Madrid's management has suffered a new legal blow after the Madrid Supreme Court ruled in favor of residents of the area surrounding the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, invalidating the club's permit to build two large underground parking garages as part of a stadium redevelopment plan. The Spanish newspaper Marca reported that the court deemed the project "not in the public interest and contravenes the principles of urban planning in the area," meaning that the permit granted to the club by the Madrid City Council is void. The newspaper explained that the decision represents a new chapter in a long legal battle waged by the residents of the Bernabéu neighborhood for years, objecting to the project, which they see as a threat to their urban environment and a cause of increased congestion and noise in the area. In its ruling, the court confirmed that the concession submitted by the city council to Real Madrid "was not based on sufficient justification to ensure a balance of interests between the two parties," noting that the project primarily serves the club's commercial and sporting objectives rather than the public interest. With this ruling, the neighborhood residents' association achieves another legal victory over the club's management, although the decision is subject to appeal before the Spanish Supreme Court, meaning the legal process could drag on for a while longer. This development comes as Real Madrid faces another legal case related to noise generated by concerts hosted at the renovated stadium. Residents complained that sound levels exceeded legal limits, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend events until the matter is resolved. The "New Bernabéu" project aims to transform the stadium into a multi-use facility combining football, entertainment, and sporting events, as part of a plan to diversify the club's sources of income. However, recent legal obstacles threaten to delay or modify some aspects of the project, particularly those related to external infrastructure. The new ruling is expected to deepen tensions between Real Madrid's management and the area's residents, amid renewed debate over the club's ability to achieve a fair balance between its economic and sporting ambitions and the rights of the local community to a stable urban environment that respects the city's zoning laws.