Real Madrid have demanded the resignation of LaLiga president Javier Tebas after he compared the club’s management and television coverage to propaganda methods used by Nazi Germany.
Tebas made the remarks on social media on Friday. He was responding to articles by two journalists in El Debate newspaper, which claimed he and LaLiga were acting against Real Madrid’s interests.
“Real Madrid’s management directs an orchestra of mouthpieces and Real Madrid TV leads the singing,” Tebas wrote.
He accused the journalists of amplifying a message on behalf of Real Madrid’s management. He also criticised the club’s television coverage of refereeing decisions.
“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 added.
“That method recalls propaganda mechanisms used by Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s Minister of Propaganda.
“The comparison is with those propaganda techniques, not with an ideology or, of course, with the Madridista fanbase,” Tebas clarified.
Real Madrid call for Tebas to resign
Real Madrid issued a statement later on Friday. The club demanded that Tebas resign as LaLiga president and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
The club described his comments as “intolerable and extraordinarily serious”. It accused him of using Nazi propaganda comparisons to discredit its management and television channel.
“Tebas’ repeated conduct demonstrates a lack of neutrality, respect and impartiality incompatible with his institutional responsibilities,” the statement said.
Real Madrid also criticised Tebas for linking the club to statements from journalists unaffiliated with its management.
“It is unacceptable that he even takes advantage of questions, information or opinions from journalists unrelated to the club to direct his accusations at us, attributing to us actions of third parties for which we bear no responsibility.”
Long-running feud deepens
The dispute adds to tensions between Real Madrid and the LaLiga chief.
In September, Real Madrid called for a new LaLiga president after Tebas described its complaints about refereeing decisions as “a smokescreen” for its shortcomings on the pitch.
Tebas, 64, has led LaLiga since 2013. The 42 professional clubs in Spain’s top two divisions elect the league president. He secured an unopposed re-election in 2023, extending his term until 2027.
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