Real Madrid Stadium Plans Halted By Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court of Madrid has suspended, on a preventative basis, the renovation and extension of the Santiago Bernabeu.

At the end of January, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez unveiled plans to redevelop the stadium, which were to include the installation of a retractable roof, as well as the construction of a shopping center, hotels and a leisure center next to the Bernabeu.

The project was to be completed by 2016 with a cost of £330 million.

But the Supreme Court of Madrid has temporarily blocked proposed changes to local planning laws that were essential to Real Madrid’s plans because the ten-time champions of Europe are among several Spanish clubs under investigation by the European Commission (EC) for receiving illegal state aid.

The investigation concerns a property swap Real Madrid made with the town hall which dates back to 1996.

Although Real Madrid have promised that the renovations and extensions to the Bernabeu will be good for local businesses and the community, the club have faced opposition from a local environmental group, Ecologists in Action, which brought a complaint against Real to the Supreme Court, citing the fact the Spanish giants are under investigation from the EC.

The Supreme Court’s acceptance of the complaint means it has blocked changes to planning laws first approved in 2011, preventing Madrid from going ahead with their plans for the stadium.

Real Madrid have 10 days to appeal the Supreme Court’s decision. It is expected that the club will lodge an appeal in the coming days.