Khaberni - The administration of Real Madrid received a new legal blow after the Supreme Court in Madrid issued a ruling in favor of residents in the area surrounding Santiago Bernabéu Stadium against the project to create two large underground car parks, which the club intended to implement as part of its stadium development plan.
The Spanish newspaper Marca mentioned that the ruling considered the license granted by the Madrid City Council for the project invalid and void, as it does not serve the public interest and violates the urban planning foundations of the area.
It explained: "The decision comes as a completion of a long legal battle waged by the residents for years against the car park project, which they describe as threatening their urban environment and increasing congestion and noise."
It added: "The Supreme Court for Justice in Madrid confirmed in its ruling that the concession submitted by the city council to the club was not based on sufficient justifications to ensure a balance of interest between the two parties, considering that the project serves commercial and sports objectives more than it serves the general public interest of the neighborhood."
It continued: "Thus, the Bernabéu neighborhood residents' association achieved a new victory in its legal battle, even though the ruling allows for an appeal before the Spanish Supreme Court, meaning that the legal path may continue for a longer period. This decision poses an additional challenge for the management of Real Madrid, which considered the car park project a central part of its plan to develop the infrastructure surrounding the stadium, as the two parking spaces were expected to provide hundreds of places for cars and facilitate the movement of visitors during major events."
It remarked: "This comes at a time when the club is facing another legal issue related to the noise resulting from musical events hosted at Santiago Bernabéu after its new opening, while residents of the area complained about the noise level exceeding permitted limits, prompting the authorities to temporarily suspend hosting musical concerts until the issue is settled."
It continued: "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 aimed at diversifying the club's income sources. However, the recent legal obstacles threaten to delay the implementation of some parts of the project or modify them, especially those related to the external infrastructure."
It concluded: "The latest ruling deepens the tension between the administration of Real Madrid and the residents of the area, and reopens the discussion about the extent to which the project balances the club's economic and sports ambitions and the local community's right to a quiet urban environment that respects the legal and regulatory standards of the city."
