Real Madrid lose  major stadium battle as court rejects controversial feature

REAL MADRID have had their proposal to build a controversial tunnel outside the Bernabeu rejected by a Spanish court.

The La Liga side have been hard at work overhauling their iconic stadium since 2019, finally completing the project in 2024.

The £1.5bn renovation increased the capacity to around 83,000, while also introducing a retractable roof and 360-degree LED scoreboard screens.

A VIP hospitality suite called the SkyBar has also been built, while it also has a retractable pitch that can be stored underground when the stadium is used for entertainment events.

Madrid have still been applying finishing touches to areas surrounding the arena and had plans to construct two parking lots that would connect with existing parking space at the Bernabeu.

It would provide more than 2,000 parking spaces for fans attending games, with both new parking lots spread across four floors each.

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The plans would also see a new 650-metre tunnel built to connect the car park to the stadium – costing around £11.2million.

The idea behind the tunnel was that it would lessen traffic around the stadium and create more space for pedestrians to walk.

Madrid already had the works approved by the Madrid City Council back in 2023.

But according to Spanish outlet El Diario, the Madrid Superior Court of Justice said it had stepped in to overturn the decision “due to a lack of public interest” in the project.

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In a statement, the court said the club “has failed to prove in the present proceedings that the construction of two parking garages, one of which plans a direct connection with the Bernabéu Stadium’s own parking lot, satisfies a purpose of public and general interest in accordance with Urban Planning and specifically with the Special Plan.”

It added that there was “no objective and reliable data” that the tunnel “would resolved the existing traffic congestion in the area”.

Madrid had previously built tunnels underneath the Bernabeu to allow machinery and workers to drive around during the building works.

Madrid have encountered a number of stumbling blocks since commencing work on the Bernabeu.

The project began after Covid broke out, with workers given the go ahead to continue day and night.

Staff also had avoid the roof at all costs and were forced to set fire to it in order to make way for the new one.

They were also involved in a separate dispute with residents over noise coming from concerts inside the Bernabeu.

Madrid were banned from hosting music concerts after a number of noise complaints were filed, with a number of gigs cancelled.

It has cost them millions and left rivals Atletico Madrid profiting, with a several concerts switching to their Metroplitano Stadium ten miles down the road.