Real Madrid Slams La Liga President Javier Tebas in Escalating Dispute
Real Madrid launched a scathing attack on La Liga President Javier Tebas, accusing him of obsession and calling for his replacement amid a fierce refereeing dispute.
The conflict between Real Madrid and La Liga President Javier Tebas escalated significantly on Tuesday. Hours after Tebas criticized the club over their complaints regarding refereeing, Real Madrid published an extraordinarily sharp official statement accusing Tebas of an obsession with the club and effectively calling for his replacement.
"Real Madrid considers it intolerable that the president of La Liga uses his institutional position to continue disparaging and attacking Real Madrid as he does in every one of his statements," the club stated. "It is deeply worrying that someone responsible for representing and defending the interests of all La Liga clubs continues to be repeatedly obsessed with Real Madrid, making our club a permanent target for his public attacks."
Origins of the Dispute
The response came after Tebas dismissed claims from Real Madrid and affiliated media regarding refereeing standards in Spain. He argued that "claiming referees are targeting Real Madrid is as if you are living in another galaxy," adding that "it is more convenient to point to a conspiracy instead of explaining what is happening on the pitch." According to Tebas, a refereeing mistake does not prove a conspiracy, even if it repeats itself over years.
Real Madrid maintained that Tebas's latest remarks were especially severe because they came in response to an article by an independent journalist on a website. The tension surrounding officiating intensified following a turbulent Madrid derby in which Atletico Madrid defeated Real 2-1, prompting fierce discussions about referee decisions.
Calls for Change
Concluding their statement, the club cast doubt on Tebas's suitability for the post:
In view of this inappropriate and continuous behavior, we believe that professional football in Spain urgently needs an administrator capable of managing it and developing its full potential while fulfilling the fundamental duty of neutrality.
"Real Madrid needs someone who understands the essence of their role, because the president of La Liga is not the owner of the competition, but a manager in the service of the clubs," the Blancos concluded.
