Real Madrid calls for La Liga chief's removal over club criticism

Real Madrid has responded to recent remarks by La Liga president Javier Tebas, criticizing him for repeatedly using his official position to attack the club and calling for a neutral leader who understands the limits of the role to oversee the competition.

In a statement, Real Madrid said: “Our club considers it unacceptable for the president of La Liga to use his institutional position to continually criticize and attack Real Madrid as he does in all his statements. It is deeply concerning that the person responsible for representing and protecting the interests of all La Liga clubs persistently targets Real Madrid, making our club a constant subject of his public attacks.”

The club added that Tebas’s latest comments were in response to an article by an independent journalist, but argued that the La Liga president used the opportunity to judge Real Madrid’s sporting strategy. “His latest statement is extremely serious and incomprehensible, and unbecoming of a responsible executive, as it refers to an article by an independent journalist in a digital media outlet. Nevertheless, he attacks our club and evaluates our sporting strategy, which is completely unacceptable and irresponsible.”

Real Madrid also criticized what it described as Tebas’s ongoing use of his time and personal channels to attack the club, instead of focusing on his official duties. “It is astonishing that the president of La Liga devotes his time and personal platforms to constantly trying to publicly discredit Real Madrid, rather than working, as his position requires, to build trust in the institutions that must guarantee the integrity of the competition.”

The club argued that such behavior damages the image of Spanish football competitions, adding: “In this way, he continues to harm the image of our competitions and Spanish football worldwide.”

In conclusion, Real Madrid called for a change in the leadership of professional football in Spain. “In light of this inappropriate and persistent conduct over time, we believe that professional football in Spain urgently needs a leader capable of managing and fully developing its potential with a fundamental commitment to neutrality.”

The club emphasized its view of the La Liga president’s role, stating: “We need someone who understands the nature of the position, because the president of La Liga is not the owner of the competition, but a manager serving the clubs that make it up and trust him to run it. We, the clubs, need someone who serves this mission faithfully.”

Tebas had recently responded to criticism of refereeing in a post on his social media accounts, using phrases he has often repeated in his criticism of Real Madrid, including describing the club’s channel, Real Madrid TV, as “regime television.” He added: “When it’s not Negreira, it’s the referee. Enough of this smokescreen! The usual excuse is no longer believed by anyone with a bit of logic.”