Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium Upgrade Plans Rejected by City Officials

Real Madrid's plans to renovate the Santiago Bernabeu stadium have been thrown out by city officials of the Spanish capital on the grounds that any new development must be "in the best interests of the general public."

So reports the Associated Press (h/t ESPN FC), who notes that Los Blancos' permission to overhaul the exterior of the stadium—complete with the addition of a retractable roof—and build a hotel and shopping centre was annulled in court earlier in the year as "it broke Spanish land use law."

Officials say that any plans the club makes must "not affect the interests of local citizens" in order to be approved. 

As the report further indicates, Real was previously given the green light on its project—due to cost £330 million, according to BBC Sport—by the capital's former government.

The stadium received major renovations ahead of the 1982 FIFA World Cup and since then has had a number of smaller upgrades and expansions—particularly under current president Florentino Perez, who has overseen the development of the arena since his election in 2000.

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

Per BBC Sport, Perez said of the plans in November:

"

We want to make the Santiago Bernabeu the best stadium in the world.

Our commitment is to continue increasing the heritage of our club, thus gain in economic strength, so we can continue to lead in an environment of increasing competition.

We believe in a project that will enhance our image, brand and city that we also feel proud of.

"

Perez has recently come under fire from the Madridistas with the club struggling to keep pace with archrivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in La Liga, and the fans haven't been afraid to vocally express their displeasure with the current management of the team and running of the club.