Former Barcelona presidential candidate Toni Freixa has launched a scathing attack on Real Madrid, accusing the club of orchestrating a “coup” against Spanish football.

Speaking on El Chiringuito, Freixa criticised Madrid for their constant complaints about refereeing decisions, sarcastically remarking, “Do you not like the round ball? Should we make it oval? Don’t you like rectangular goals, or should we make them circular?”

Freixa went even further, directly accusing Madrid of pressuring officials through the media and social networks. “If you’re going against all of that, you’re staging a coup. And you’re the only one doing it,” he claimed. “It’s a coup against Spanish football, sponsored and led by Real Madrid!”

Referencing the long-standing debate about refereeing favoritism, Freixa brought up the phrase “siempre sale el 36” (always 36), a term coined by former Barcelona president Jose Luis Núñez to imply Madrid consistently benefit from crucial decisions. “When there’s doubt… always 36. In 99.9% of the doubts, decisions go in favor of Madrid,” he argued. “When something suspicious happens, always the 36 comes up. It’s not normal that in roulette, the 36 always comes up.”

Freixa’s accusations are the latest in a long history of Barcelona figures targeting Real Madrid over refereeing controversies. However, his remarks come at a time when Los Blancos continue to push for greater transparency in officiating—a stance that has ruffled feathers in Spanish football’s establishment.