A new scandal has erupted in Madrid over urban planning. The regional High Court (Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Madrid) has invalidated part of a special plan that allowed the football club Atlético de Madrid to lease more than 200,000 square meters of municipal land on a long-term basis. This plot, located next to the Metropolitano stadium, was originally designated for Olympic infrastructure for Games that ultimately never took place in the Spanish capital.
The court’s decision came as a surprise to both the city administration and the club itself. Madrid authorities, as well as Atlético representatives, now have one month to appeal the verdict to the country’s Supreme Court. However, the process could drag on for a year or more, putting the large-scale sports cluster project at risk.
Reasons for cancellation
The judges cited two key violations. First, in their view, transferring the land to the club fundamentally changes its original purpose — from public use to commercial. On the site, where the abandoned ruins of an unfinished aquatic center currently stand, there were plans to build a hotel and a concert hall. The court found that the city authorities had not provided sufficient justification for such a transformation.
Secondly, when the plan was approved, the mandatory environmental impact assessment was disregarded. The court noted that the project was supposed to undergo a strategic environmental review as required by current law. The absence of such a study became one of the main reasons for the plan being declared invalid.
Political reaction
The court’s decision sparked a strong response among opposition parties. Representatives of the Socialists and the Más Madrid movement accused the city hall of acting in the interests of private entities rather than residents. According to them, this kind of ‘pay-to-play urbanism’ undermines public trust in the authorities and sets precedents for future conflicts.
The opposition particularly noted that similar issues have arisen before. In particular, the court had previously canceled projects to build parking lots near the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, which were to be operated by another major football club — Real Madrid. Critics argue that the city administration too often caters to big business, ignoring the interests of local residents.
Possible scenarios
City authorities and Atlético now have two options. The first is to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court, which could take at least a year. The second is to prepare a new project that addresses the court’s concerns: conducting a full environmental assessment and making a clearer case for the public benefit of the proposed facilities.
So far, neither city hall nor club representatives have issued official comments regarding their next steps. Experts note that this situation could set a precedent for other municipal projects involving the transfer of public land to private companies.
Public reaction
The city community is actively discussing the court’s decision. Many Madrid residents believe that such projects should undergo the most transparent review possible and take citizens’ opinions into account. At the same time, supporters of sports infrastructure development fear that bureaucratic delays could cause the city to miss an opportunity to create a world-class modern sports cluster.
The question of how to balance the interests of business, sports, and society has once again taken center stage. The court’s decision has sent a message to everyone involved in urban development: any major project must meet not only economic, but also environmental and social standards.
In case you didn’t know, the football club Atlético de Madrid is one of the oldest and most decorated in Spain. Founded in 1903, the club has repeatedly won the national championship and secured European trophies. The Metropolitano Stadium, inaugurated in 2017, became the team’s new home ground and is one of the most modern sports venues in Europe. The club is chaired by Enrique Cerezo, while the mayor of Madrid is José Luis Martínez-Almeida.
