Real Madrid have demanded the immediate resignation of La Liga president Javier Tebas, labelling his comparison of the club's communications to Nazi propaganda as "morally repugnant". The extraordinary call to step down came after Tebas posted a lengthy critique on social media platform X on Friday, directly referencing the methods of Adolf Hitler's propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels.
In his post, Tebas accused Real Madrid's management of directing "an orchestra of mouthpieces" with its in-house television channel leading the way. "Their score is always the same: select the plays that suit them, repeat the grievance, feed the suspicion, and point fingers at the enemies," he wrote. "That method recalls propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels." Tebas later clarified he was comparing techniques, not ideology, but Madrid rejected this distinction outright.
The club issued a fierce statement condemning the remarks as "deeply offensive" and "institutionally unworthy". It said, "Real Madrid considers it absolutely intolerable and extraordinarily serious that someone holding two positions of utmost responsibility in Spanish football resorts to a comparison with the propaganda methods of the Nazi regime." The club demanded Tebas resign from his roles as head of La Liga and vice-president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), arguing his "repeated conduct demonstrates a lack of neutrality, respect, and impartiality".
This clash is the latest in a long-running feud between the club and the league chief. Last month, Tebas criticised Madrid for alleging a refereeing conspiracy. In September, the club had already demanded his resignation after he commented on their complaints following a 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid. The relationship has been strained for years, notably over Madrid's involvement in the proposed European Super League in 2021.
Madrid's statement also pointedly referenced the ongoing 'Negreira case', a judicial investigation into payments from Barcelona to a former vice-president of the referees' committee. The club accused Tebas of dedicating "his efforts to discrediting Real Madrid instead of promoting... The clarification of these very serious facts". Manager Jose Mourinho has also been vocal this season about perceived refereeing injustices against the record 36-time Spanish champions.
The demand for resignation marks a new low in the governance of Spanish football, with the country's most powerful club and its league administrator now in open, acrimonious conflict. No immediate response from Tebas or the RFEF was reported following Madrid's latest statement.
Read the full report at bbc.co.uk
