La Liga President Javier Tebas Takes Aim at Real Madrid and Florentino Perez
Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has been at the forefront of controversy lately, particularly with his pointed remarks about Real Madrid and its president, Florentino Perez. During a recent interview at the Europa Press sports breakfast, Tebas did not mince words, calling Real Madrid a "crybaby" club for their incessant complaints about refereeing decisions that have allegedly cost them points in the La Liga title race. Tebas, who describes himself as a "hibernating Madridista," was unapologetic in his critique, stating, "I refer to objective data. There is supposedly a worldwide and Spanish conspiracy in which everyone is against Real Madrid and their projects. I no longer know if this issue with referees is due to a bias against Real Madrid or a bias in favor of other clubs winning instead."
The Refereeing Debate and Real Madrid’s “Crybaby” Label
Tebas’s criticism of Real Madrid’s behavior extends beyond mere rhetoric. He pointed out that the club’s complaints are not just about reviewing mistakes against Madrid but also include instances where other teams, like Celta Vigo, have faced similar situations. "It is no longer just about reviewing mistakes against Madrid; ask Celta Vigo in Copa del Rey – a similar situation to the ‘All OK, Jose Luis’ incident. They review plays when Madrid play against Rayo, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid… It is an obsession, and then they start crying. It is not true. A narrative has been built that is simply not real," he said. Tebas further emphasized the need for a deep reform in the refereeing system, a stance he has advocated for a long time. He argued that while referees make mistakes, the current narrative pushed by Real Madrid is misleading and damaging to the integrity of the league.
Florentino Perez’s Silence and Tebas’s Accusations
Tebas’s attack on Real Madrid is not limited to their recent behavior; he also took aim at Florentino Perez’s silence during the Negreira case. "Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Football Federation until November 2023 and said nothing. The ‘Negreira case’ broke out in February 2023, and he remained a board member for eight months without speaking up. The narrative pushed by Real Madrid does not convince me," he said. Tebas questioned the timing and sincerity of Real Madrid’s aggressive letter questioning the refereeing standards in La Liga, given their previous silence on critical issues. "Now, suddenly, they send an aggressive letter, but before, they remained silent," he noted, emphasizing the club’s inconsistent stance.
Real Madrid’s Players and the Refereeing Debate
Tebas also addressed the recent actions of Real Madrid players, particularly their decision to pose behind a banner in support of referees ahead of their La Liga game against Girona, despite the club’s ongoing war against officiating. "Another important detail that needs to be analysed carefully: yesterday, the players stood behind the banner. Did they do it because they genuinely believed in it? I think so," he said. He also referenced a tweet by Real Madrid player Federico Valverde, who had to retract a statement he made in a press conference about the plight of referees. "Ask Valverde about the message he gave and then had to quickly retract. Ask him what happened that made him talk about a topic and then change his stance in a tweet an hour later," he noted. Tebas argued that there is an attempt to make all Madridistas—players, coaches, and fans—believe in a conspiracy theory that does not exist, which he finds deeply troubling.
The Impact of Real Madrid’s Complaints on La Liga
Tebas strongly criticized the impact of Real Madrid’s complaints on the league and other clubs. "What is happening is an insult to the rest of the clubs. When a team beats Real Madrid, it is not because they played better but because the referee allegedly made decisions against Madrid on purpose," he said. He also mentioned that Real Madrid’s recent statement claiming that LaLiga is “adulterated” is a serious accusation and has been reported to the Competition Committee. "Such statements are highly damaging. There are other strategic motives behind Real Madrid’s stance… What I must acknowledge is that Real Madrid’s communication team is very good. Their spokespersons, self-conducted interviews… they know how to control the narrative," he added.
The Future of La Liga and the Super League Project
In addressing the broader implications of Real Madrid’s actions, Tebas dismissed claims that La Liga intends to "expatriate" Real Madrid. "Florentino Perez is repeating the same things he said in 2021 on El Chiringuito. Four years have passed, and as far as I know, we are not bankrupt. If someone as experienced and influential as him says it, people believe it. Now the narrative is that Tebas and La Liga are going to expropriate Real Madrid. Who could possibly believe that?" he said. Tebas also addressed the chants directed against him at the Santiago Bernabeu, attributing them to orchestrated actions by groups like Pena Clásica, led by Carlos Clara, a member of Ultra Sur who was recently convicted for assaulting other Madridistas. He further criticized Real Madrid’s involvement in the Super League project, describing it as an oligarchy where the rich make all the decisions. "Do you really think an industry as significant as football, with so many jobs depending on it, can be handled like that?" he asked, emphasizing the need for transparency and fair play in the sport.
