Former Real Madrid president Vicente Boluda says he does not like to hear whistles and chants against the current Blancos chief Florentino Perez at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, but believes that Perez runs the club like a "Roman Emperor... counting the votes he wants to count."
Chants of "Florentino dimision" [Florentino resign] were heard at the Bernabeu when Barcelona won there 4-0 last November, and again during the 0-1 derbi defeat at home to Atletico Madrid in mid-February.
Such protests come with Madrid well behind both Barca and Atletico in the title race, thrown out of the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player, and having suffered other recent embarrassments such as the failed attempt to sign Manchester United's David De Gea last summer.
Boluda was president of the club for five months in 2009, after Ramon Calderon had been forced to resign in the January and before Perez returned to the position unchallenged that summer.
And the businessman told AS that he does not like to see such division at the club.
"It is a worrying situation," Boluda said. "I do not want to say too much, as my words can be misinterpreted. But I do not like what I see, not me, nor any Madrid socio. But this will change when the team starts to win. Football should be treated as football.
"It must be difficult [for Florentino]. It does not seem right to me, but it is clear the socios are not happy."
Madrid are currently holding elections to choose the senior compromisarios socios, who will then cast votes on behalf of their fellow members at the club's next annual assembly.
Boluda said that he did not think the procedure to choose these voting socios was as clear as it could be, and this could lead to situations where the club statutes are changed -- as in September 2012 when it was made more difficult for challengers to Perez to present candidacies in any upcoming election.
"I hear many people complaining they do not know how to vote within their section," he said. "It seems the club controls this easily. It should be changed, for the good of the socios. In the end the compromisarios are those who will weigh up and judge the work of the board and decide the direction of the club. There can be votes for such important things as changes to the club's statutes. In the very recent past we have seen how the requirements to be a candidate for the presidency were really strengthened, something which ended up in the courts."
While Perez often maintains that Madrid is a members club where the members take all the important decisions, Boluda said internal democracy at the Bernabeu was not working at all well.
"During my time the assemblies were more democratic," he said. "I must say that. I like for the socios to be able to talk, to debate. That questions are answered. It is different when the socios are not treated as they should be.
"I wanted people to be free to vote with their conscience, and in secret ballot. But it has ended up like the Greeks and Romans, voting with your hand in the air. And with the emperor counting the votes he wants to count."