Real Madrid Demand Change at LaLiga After Tebas Remarks

The fallout from the Madrid derby has escalated into a fresh confrontation between Real Madrid and LaLiga president Javier Tebas. After Tebas criticised the club’s complaints over refereeing, Real Madrid issued an official statement calling for a change in leadership at Spain’s professional football league.

Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid on Sunday and strongly criticised the officiating. The club’s own website described the match with the headline, “Terrible refereeing decides the derby,” reflecting the strength of its reaction to several decisions during the game.

Mourinho Joins Real Madrid’s Refereeing Criticism

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho also expressed his frustration after the derby. During his post-match press conference, Mourinho argued that two Atletico players could have been sent off and even brought printed images of the incidents to illustrate his complaints.

Real Madrid particularly questioned incidents involving Atletico defender Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in, with the club arguing that the challenges deserved greater disciplinary action.

Tebas Rejects Real Madrid’s Claims

Tebas later responded to Real Madrid’s complaints on social media, rejecting the suggestion that referees were being used against the club.

The LaLiga president argued that claims of a refereeing conspiracy were an attempt to shift attention away from what was happening on the pitch. He said it was easier to point to a conspiracy than to explain the team’s performances and results.

Tebas has also criticised the way Real Madrid and its media channels have addressed refereeing controversies, while maintaining that the competition should not be shaped around the interests of any single club.

Real Madrid Call for New Leadership

Real Madrid responded with a strongly worded official statement on Tuesday. The club described Tebas’ conduct as “intolerable” and argued that Spanish professional football urgently needs a leader capable of managing the competition with neutrality.

The club accused Tebas of repeatedly using his institutional position to publicly discredit and attack Real Madrid. It also argued that the LaLiga president should represent the interests of all clubs and help strengthen confidence in institutions responsible for ensuring the impartiality of the competition.

Real Madrid further claimed that Tebas’ actions were damaging the image of LaLiga and Spanish football internationally. The club therefore called for new leadership at the league.

Tebas’ Current Term Runs Until 2027

Tebas has served as LaLiga president since 2013. He was re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2023, with his current mandate running until 2027.

The dispute between Tebas and Real Madrid is not new. The two sides have repeatedly clashed over league governance and other institutional issues. The latest refereeing controversy has now added another chapter to their long-running dispute.

What began as a dispute over refereeing decisions in the Madrid derby has now developed into a broader argument over the leadership and governance of Spanish professional football.