Bernabeu’s revamp plans halted by court

Spanish court stops Real’s plans to remodel stadium as the club is investigated for receiving illegal state aid.

The EU began investigating Real Madrid, Barcelona and five other Spanish clubs [GALLO/GETTY]

A Spanish court has temporarily stopped Real Madrid’s plans to remodel its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with the club under investigation by the European Union for possibly receiving illegal state aid.

The court says in a statement that it has temporarily blocked permission granted by the Madrid city government to allow Real Madrid to “build buildings around the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium”.

The court says it acted in response to a petition by the environmental group Ecologistas en Accion.

Last year, the EU began investigating Real Madrid, Barcelona and five other Spanish clubs to see if they received illegal state aid.

The EU then said it was specifically checking a property swap involving Real Madrid and the city government.

Source: AP