Real Madrid are demanding the immediate resignation of La Liga President Javier Tebas after he wrote on social media that the club's management "directs an orchestra of mouthpieces" and that its television channel's method "recalls propaganda mechanisms used by Goebbels, Nazi Germany's Minister of Propaganda."
Tebas was responding to articles by two journalists in El Debate newspaper that he said amplified a message on behalf of Real Madrid's management. The La Liga chief criticised Real Madrid TV's coverage of officiating, writing: "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 the comparison was with propaganda techniques, not with ideology or the club's fanbase.
In a statement released later on Friday, Real Madrid called the remarks "intolerable and extraordinarily serious" and said Tebas's conduct "demonstrates a lack of neutrality, respect and impartiality incompatible with his institutional responsibilities." The club also noted that Tebas was attributing actions of third parties to them.
The demand deepens a feud that flared last month when Real Madrid called for a new La Liga president after Tebas described their complaints about refereeing decisions as "a smokescreen" for their on-field shortcomings.
Tebas, 64, has been La Liga president since 2013 and was re-elected unopposed in 2023 for a term running until 2027. He is elected by the 42 professional clubs in Spain's top two tiers. Real Madrid's statement came hours after La Liga confirmed that the club is one of six sides on the league's Executive Committee this season.