La Liga president Javier Tebas has rejected Real Madrid’s call for his resignation, insisting that he will continue to make decisions independently and will not be subjected to pressure from the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid had called for Tebas to step down, accusing him of lacking neutrality and repeatedly attacking the club.
The dispute has further intensified following the controversy surrounding the recent Madrid derby, adding to the long-running tensions between Real Madrid and the La Liga leadership.
Responding to the club’s statement, Tebas said he agreed with one particular point made by Real Madrid that the president of La Liga is not the owner of the competition.
“I have read the statement. I fully agree with one sentence: the president of La Liga is not the owner of the competition,” Tebas wrote. “Neither is the president of Real Madrid.”
Tebas also criticised what he described as Real Madrid’s repeated complaints about refereeing decisions and the club’s use of its official television channel to question the credibility of the league.
He said while criticism of refereeing decisions was legitimate, repeatedly presenting controversial decisions as evidence of a wider campaign against the club could damage the image of Spanish football.
The La Liga chief also rejected Real Madrid’s interpretation of neutrality, arguing that independence requires him to make decisions based on his own judgement and the interests of the competition.
“They confuse neutrality with independence,” Tebas said. “Independence requires deciding with one’s own judgement, without pressures or subordination, applying the same rules to everyone and defending the common interest.”
He added that representing all clubs did not mean submitting to the most powerful team.
“And representing everyone does not mean obeying the most powerful,” Tebas said. “I am not the owner of La Liga, nor will I manage it as if it belonged to a single club. I respect everyone. Subordination to no one.”
The latest exchange is another chapter in the strained relationship between Real Madrid and La Liga, with both sides frequently clashing over issues surrounding the running, finances and future direction of Spanish football.
Real Madrid’s demand for Tebas’ resignation and his decision to reject the call suggest that the dispute is likely to continue, with future refereeing and administrative controversies potentially adding to the tension between the two sides.