Real Madrid have demanded the immediate resignation of LaLiga president Javier Tebas following his controversial comments comparing the club’s management methods to those used by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi regime’s Minister of Propaganda.
The Spanish giants issued an official statement on Friday, October 16, condemning Tebas’s remarks and calling for his resignation as both LaLiga president and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The dispute arose after Tebas criticised Real Madrid’s communication methods and the coverage of refereeing decisions by Real Madrid TV, comparing the channel’s approach to propaganda techniques associated with Goebbels. Tebas clarified that his comparison concerned communication methods rather than Nazi ideology.
In response, Real Madrid described the comments as “absolutely intolerable and extraordinarily serious”, arguing that such language was unacceptable from someone occupying two senior positions in Spanish football.
“The clarification that he is not referring to Nazi ideology does not mitigate the deeply offensive, morally repugnant, and institutionally unworthy nature of his statements,” the club said in its official statement published on its website.
Real Madrid also accused Tebas of repeatedly targeting the club, its president and its media outlets, describing his latest remarks as another episode in what it considers a series of attacks.
“These statements constitute yet another episode in the repeated attacks by Javier Tebas against Real Madrid, its president, and its media outlets,” the club stated.
The club further criticised Tebas for questioning its actions and those of Real Madrid TV concerning the Negreira case, which centres on payments made by Barcelona to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice-president of the Spanish referees’ technical committee.
Real Madrid said it had approached UEFA directly to seek clarification of the payments and called for measures to protect the integrity of football competitions. The club also demanded a comprehensive overhaul of Spain’s refereeing system and the structures responsible for football governance, supervision and discipline.
The statement criticised Tebas for focusing on discrediting Real Madrid rather than using his institutional positions to support transparency and reforms in Spanish football.
“Javier Tebas’s repeated conduct demonstrates a lack of neutrality, respect, and impartiality incompatible with his institutional responsibilities,” the club said.
Real Madrid added that his repeated statements and behaviour would be unacceptable in any European sports institution governed by principles of respect, neutrality and integrity.
“Consequently, Real Madrid C. F. demands his immediate resignation as president of LaLiga and vice president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation,” the statement concluded.
The latest dispute adds to the ongoing tension between Real Madrid and LaLiga over refereeing, institutional leadership and the handling of the Negreira case. Real Madrid has reiterated that it will continue to defend its institutional reputation and push for greater transparency and what it describes as the necessary regeneration of Spanish football.
