Real Madrid win legal battle over Bernabeu concert noise

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Madrid: Real Madrid announced on Wednesday that they have emerged victorious in a legal dispute with a residents' association over "noise pollution" at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. 

The court dismissed charges against the club and its leadership, ruling that they bear no criminal responsibility for decibel levels recorded during high-profile concerts held at the iconic venue.

The legal proceedings specifically targeted Real Madrid Estadio the company managing the stadium and Jose Angel Sanchez, a top administrator for the club.

 While a judge had previously indicated that noise levels during various events, including a performance by Taylor Swift, had exceeded legal limits, the court has now "categorically" cleared the club of any criminal offense.

According to the ruling, the responsibility for adhering to noise regulations lies with the individual "concert promoting companies" rather than the stadium's owners. 

Real Madrid maintained that these external organizers are the parties liable for complying with local decibel limits during the events they stage at the recently rebuilt facility.

The stadium, which underwent a 1.5 billion euro ($1.76 billion) renovation completed in 2023, was designed to generate significant revenue through non-sporting events.

However, the noise dispute led to a suspension of several shows from September 2024, with many events being relocated to the Metropolitano stadium located outside the city center.

This judicial victory represents a potential first step toward the resumption of concerts at the Bernabeu. While the court has cleared the club of criminal liability, the stadium is expected to undergo further sound-proofing improvements before it begins hosting high-volume musical acts again in the future.