Tebas Tears Into Real Madrid: 'They're Creating Tension Against Everyone'
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has launched a scathing attack on Real Madrid, accusing them of stoking tensions with referees and creating a hostile atmosphere in Spanish football.
Tebas Points Finger at Madrid for Spanish Football’s Rising Tensions
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has gone in two-footed on Real Madrid, blaming the capital club for creating an atmosphere of hostility in Spanish football, particularly towards referees.
In a candid interview with Sport newspaper, Tebas didn’t hold back when discussing who he believes is responsible for the current tensions in Spanish football - and it wasn’t Barcelona or other clubs in his firing line.
Madrid vs Everyone
Tebas was crystal clear about where he thinks the problem lies: “It’s Real Madrid against everything - against Barcelona, against the referees… against everything.”
The LaLiga chief expressed particular concern about Madrid’s narrative that current refereeing decisions are somehow connected to the Negreira case involving Barcelona from years ago. He believes this storyline is “dangerous” and deliberately crafted to suggest referees are biased.
According to Tebas, this tension is being stoked “all weekend through Real Madrid’s television channel” and through statements from the club’s president. He reckons they’re “very disoriented” in their approach.
Competitive Balance
Moving away from the referee row, Tebas was keen to highlight the competitive nature of LaLiga this season:
- Top clubs are finding it difficult to win matches
- Victories are hard-fought, with draws and defeats more common
- The table is tight across all positions
- Villarreal and Celta Vigo were mentioned as examples of competitive teams
Madrid’s “Crisis” Talk
Tebas dismissed talk of Real Madrid being in crisis, suggesting he’s “seen this film before” - where a team labelled as struggling in November ends up winning the league by 6-7 points with the same players and manager.
He pointed out the media pressure on Madrid to “always win and always play well,” noting this is extremely difficult given the competitive level of LaLiga.
Premier League Comparisons
When asked about the recent success of Premier League teams against Spanish sides in European competition, Tebas took a longer view:
- Can’t expect to be at maximum level in all tournaments for so many years
- Need to look at multiple seasons, not just current group stage results
- Claimed Premier League clubs were actually concerned about their results against Italian teams
Financial Fair Play Evolution
Tebas explained that LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules are adapted annually to match current realities. He emphasized that any changes always prioritize clubs’ economic sustainability, which he sees as the foundation of LaLiga’s competitiveness and growing media rights value.
In his view, this approach ensures Spanish football remains competitive “structurally, not just circumstantially” - a bit of a dig at leagues with less stringent financial controls, I reckon.