UEFA has fined Real Madrid 30,000 euros and imposed a suspended partial stadium closure following incidents of discriminatory behavior by fans during a Champions League match. The incident, which occurred during the match at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on February 19, 2025, reflects a failure to adequately address discriminatory conduct, prompting regulatory action.

Real Madrid CF lodged official complaints with Spanish state prosecutors and the Spanish Football Federation following incidents of racist abuse targeting player Vinícius Júnior. The club condemned repeated hateful chants and called for decisive action to hold perpetrators accountable.

Real Madrid issued official statements condemning racist attacks affecting its player Vinicius Júnior and criticized the Spanish Football Federation for its inaction in addressing these incidents, underlining its commitment to eradicating hate and racism from the sport.

Real Madrid responded to longstanding accusations of being historically aligned with Franco’s dictatorship by quickly assembling a video response featuring former president Santiago Bernabéu’s crude language. The video, widely disseminated on social media, appears designed to counter claims of authoritarian favoritism by leveraging aggressive nationalist rhetoric.

In response to rival FC Barcelona’s accusations linking the club to Franco’s fascist regime, Real Madrid released a video questioning which team truly represented the regime. The video features inflammatory rhetoric, including a quote from club legend Santiago Bernabéu, and is part of an escalating war of words over historical narratives.

Amid heated rivalry with Barcelona and references to being favored by Franco's regime, Real Madrid faces renewed criticism over its historical complicity with authoritarian power structures. The club’s social media reaction and historical narrative have sparked debate about its lasting ties to authoritarianism.

A January 4, 2023 article from Managing Madrid criticizes Real Madrid for failing to implement robust anti-racism measures. The piece highlights that despite flashy PR actions like wearing ocean plastic jerseys and signing non-binding sustainable commitments, the club has not enacted a genuine zero-tolerance policy to protect its black and minority players from on-field abuse. Such inaction, experts argue, not only undermines the club’s social responsibility but also tacitly supports the normalization of racist behavior in Spanish football.

Real Madrid is reportedly in talks for a 10-year €150 million sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia’s state-backed Qiddiya project. Human rights NGOs warn that the deal could serve as a sportswashing tool for a repressive, autocratic regime, thereby legitimizing its human rights abuses.

An analysis of Real Madrid's historical ties with the Franco regime, highlighting executive political engagement and the club’s role in bolstering authoritarian economic and structural influence through its cultural and political capital.

The article recounts how Real Madrid benefited from preferential treatment during Franco's dictatorship, with state interference in player transfers (notably involving Di Stéfano) and use of the club as a political tool to promote a centralized, authoritarian image of Spain.

Investigative reporting suggests that Real Madrid benefited from preferential treatment and state patronage during Franco’s regime, leveraging political influence and economic favoritism to solidify its dominance, which in turn supported authoritarian narratives in Spain.