Tebas tells Real Madrid: ‘I will not bow to anyone’ in latest La Liga dispute

La Liga president Javier Tebas has rejected Real Madrid’s criticism and insisted that defending every club’s interests does not mean following the strongest club’s position.

Tebas responded to a strongly worded statement from Real Madrid just over two hours after it was issued, using social media to address the points raised by the club and reaffirm his independence.

“Defending the interests of one club does not mean adopting its narrative, and representing everyone does not mean obeying the strongest,” Tebas wrote.

Real Madrid had criticised refereeing after the Madrid derby. Tebas said it was legitimate to question an individual decision, but argued that repeatedly presenting every setback suffered by one team as evidence of persecution was something different.

“Criticising a refereeing decision is legitimate, but turning every harm suffered by a team into proof that there is a campaign of persecution is another matter,” he said.

He also took aim at the tone of Real Madrid’s official television channel, which he said had spent years claiming that the league was being manipulated.

“They have been talking for years about a league that has been rigged, round after round… Does that generate confidence or damage the image of Spanish football?” Tebas wrote.

Tebas defends his independence

Tebas said neutrality should not be interpreted as refusing to take a position on any issue. In his view, acting independently sometimes requires identifying what he believes to be right or wrong.

“If by neutrality you mean not taking a position on anything, including what is right and what is wrong, then you are asking me to abandon my responsibility,” he said.

“Independence means making decisions according to my own criteria, without pressure or submission, applying the same rules to everyone and defending the common interest.”

He added: “That means making decisions and stating positions, even if Real Madrid does not like it.”

Tebas rejected the accusation that he was biased against Real Madrid, repeating that representing the competition’s collective interests did not mean adopting one club’s arguments.

“The interests of the competition must be defended, as must the interests of La Liga,” he said.

He ended his message with a further declaration: “I do not own La Liga, and I will not run it as if it belonged to one club. I respect everyone. I bow to no-one.”

Real Madrid calls for neutrality

The dispute began with comments from Tebas after the Madrid derby. Referring to criticism of refereeing, he wrote: “When it is not Negreira, it is the referee. Enough of this blindness! The usual excuse is no longer believed by anyone with a little common sense.”

He also dismissed the idea that referees were targeting Real Madrid, saying that anyone who believed officials were “directed against Real Madrid is living in another galaxy”. He added that “pointing to a conspiracy is more comfortable than explaining what happens on the pitch”.

About 10 hours later, Real Madrid issued its statement, accusing Tebas of being repeatedly preoccupied with the club. It described his latest comments as “serious, incomprehensible and unbecoming of an official who carries such responsibilities”.

The club also called for “an official capable of managing the competition and developing its full potential, while complying with the basic duty of neutrality” an apparent reference to the possibility of a change in La Liga’s leadership.

The dispute over neutrality has added another public confrontation to the already strained relationship between Tebas and Real Madrid.