Real Madrid have demanded the immediate resignation of LaLiga president Javier Tebas following his controversial comparison of the club’s communication strategy to propaganda techniques used by Nazi Germany.
The Spanish giants described Tebas’ remarks as offensive and incompatible with the responsibilities of someone occupying senior positions in Spanish football, escalating the latest dispute between the club and the LaLiga leadership.
In a statement published on their official X account on Friday, Real Madrid criticised Tebas for comparing the club’s management and television channel, Real Madrid TV, to propaganda methods associated with the Nazi regime.
“Real Madrid CF considers it absolutely intolerable and extraordinarily serious that someone holding two positions of utmost responsibility in Spanish football resorts to a comparison with the propaganda methods of the Nazi regime to discredit our club, its management, and its television,” the club said.
Madrid added that Tebas’ attempt to distinguish the comparison from Nazi ideology did not reduce the seriousness of his comments.
“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 statement added.
The controversy began after Tebas accused Real Madrid’s leadership of coordinating its public messaging through club representatives and Real Madrid TV, which he suggested repeatedly promotes the club’s grievances and identifies perceived enemies.
In his social media remarks, the LaLiga chief said the approach recalled techniques used by Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s propaganda minister, including systematic repetition, constructing an enemy and prioritising a narrative over facts.
Tebas, however, stressed that his comparison concerned communication methods rather than Nazi ideology or Real Madrid supporters.
The club rejected that distinction, describing the comments as another episode in what it considers a sustained pattern of attacks against its leadership and media operations.
Negreira case deepens Real Madrid-LaLiga tensions
Beyond the disputed remarks, Real Madrid linked the confrontation to the long-running Negreira case, which concerns payments made by Barcelona to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice-president of Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees.
The payments, made over several years, have drawn scrutiny and prompted investigations into their purpose and potential implications for Spanish football. Barcelona has maintained that the payments were for technical refereeing reports and consultancy services.
Real Madrid said Tebas’ comments were particularly troubling because they appeared to question the club’s efforts to seek clarification over the case.
The club also criticised what it described as an inadequate response from the football institutions in which Tebas holds senior positions, adding that it had approached UEFA directly to request a full investigation into the payments.
“It is especially concerning that Tebas uses these statements to question the legitimate actions of Real Madrid and Real Madrid TV in relation to the Negreira case,” the club said.
Madrid further called for a comprehensive review of Spain’s refereeing system and relevant football federation structures, arguing that greater transparency and accountability were necessary to restore confidence in the game.
Madrid question Tebas’ neutrality
Real Madrid argued that Tebas’ latest comments had undermined the neutrality and impartiality expected of a senior football administrator.
The club maintained that his conduct was incompatible with his institutional responsibilities and said he should no longer remain in his positions as LaLiga president and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
“Consequently, Real Madrid demands his immediate resignation as president of LaLiga and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation,” the statement concluded.
The demand represents another escalation in the strained relationship between Real Madrid and Tebas, whose leadership of Spain’s top-flight league has frequently placed him at odds with the club over football governance and other major issues.
With the dispute now extending beyond sporting disagreements to questions of institutional conduct and public communication, attention will turn to Tebas’ response and whether the confrontation prompts any further action within Spanish football.
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