Real Madrid fans start 'Florentino Out' petition

A petition to remove Florentino Perez from his position as Real Madrid president has gathered momentum on the Change.org website, as fans bemoan his management of the Spanish club.

Started by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez of Madrid, the petition has gathered over 3,000 signatures so far, with the goal being instant dismissal of the controversial chief.

Rodriguez calls on Perez to "take responsibility for the damage he has done to our club since returning to the presidency," and lists five reasons for him to be sacked:

- Throwing away hundreds of millions of euros in signing players which have given us nothing, with no consequences.

- Changing coaches almost every year, creating an unstable climate in the club and its players. The last one Benitez, is an absolute disaster.

- A complete lack of vision for the future of our club, both on and off the pitch.

- Destroying the cantera, favouring foreign players.

- Manipulating the club statutes to stay in power.

The appointment of Benitez and subsequent mixed results have put pressure on Perez, who has blamed certain sectors of the fanbase for the rough reception the coach and his team have received at the Santiago Bernabeu in recent weeks.

The Copa del Rey debacle against Cadiz further undermined the president's standing, with Madrid thrown out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player.