La Liga president Javier Tebas has dismissed Real Madrid's claims of a refereeing conspiracy against them. In a statement on social media, Tebas said that claiming referees are directed against Real Madrid is unrealistic. He made this statement in response to an article in the Spanish media that claimed there is a "conspiracy" against Real Madrid. Tebas' comments come after Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho accused officials of making key errors in their 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid.
The dispute between Tebas and Real Madrid is not new. Tebas has had several past disputes with Real Madrid, particularly with its president Florentino Perez. In 2021, Tebas was critical of Real Madrid's plans to join a European Super League. In 2025, he said Real Madrid had "lost their head" after the club sent a formal letter of complaint to the Spanish FA about officiating in the league. These past disputes have contributed to the tension between Tebas and Real Madrid.
Mourinho's accusations against the referees came after a heated match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Mourinho brought printouts of screenshots to the post-match news conference, claiming Atletico should have been given two red cards in the first half. He showed media the printed images, saying that the story of the match was clear. Real Madrid ultimately went down to 10 men in the match after defender Dean Huijsen was sent off.
Real Madrid responded to Tebas' comments with a statement, calling his behavior "intolerable" and "particularly serious and incomprehensible". The club said that Tebas' actions damage the image of La Liga and Spanish football worldwide. They also stated that the president of La Liga should be neutral and serve the clubs that comprise the league, rather than constantly trying to publicly discredit one club.
The current standings in La Liga show that Real Madrid is fourth, six points behind Barcelona, who top the table with 21 points after winning all seven of their league games this season. The tension between Tebas and Real Madrid continues to be a significant storyline in the Spanish football league. Tebas' comments have sparked a heated debate about the role of the La Liga president and the relationship between the league and its clubs.
Tebas' statement on social media was a direct response to an article in the Spanish media that claimed there is a "conspiracy" against Real Madrid. He said that such allegations serve as an excuse to cover up other shortcomings that are plain to see in the early matches of the season. Tebas emphasized that it is more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what's happening on the pitch.
The dispute between Tebas and Real Madrid raises questions about the leadership of La Liga and the relationship between the league and its clubs. Real Madrid's statement called for a leader capable of managing the league and developing its full potential, while also having a "fundamental duty of neutrality". The situation will likely continue to be a topic of discussion in the Spanish football league.
Key points
- La Liga president Javier Tebas rejects Real Madrid's claims of a refereeing conspiracy against them.
- The dispute between Tebas and Real Madrid is not new, with past disagreements over the European Super League and officiating in the league.
- Real Madrid responded to Tebas' comments with a statement, calling his behavior "intolerable" and "particularly serious and incomprehensible".
