Real Madrid have called for LaLiga President Javier Tebas to resign after he compared the Spanish football club’s communication strategy to propaganda techniques used by Nazi Germany.
The dispute has intensified tensions between the club and the league’s leadership, with Real Madrid accusing Tebas of violating the principles of neutrality and impartiality expected of someone in his position.
Tebas criticised Real Madrid’s media coverage of refereeing decisions in a social media post on Friday, accusing the club’s management of coordinating messages through sympathetic media outlets and its own television channel.
He argued that Real Madrid TV repeatedly selects controversial incidents that support the club’s position, reinforces complaints and fuels suspicion about match officials.
Tebas said the approach reminded him of propaganda methods associated with Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s propaganda minister. However, he clarified that his comparison concerned propaganda techniques rather than Nazi ideology or Real Madrid’s supporters.
His comments came in response to articles published by two journalists in the Spanish newspaper El Debate. The articles reportedly accused Tebas and LaLiga of acting against Real Madrid’s interests.
In a statement issued later on Friday, Real Madrid demanded Tebas’s immediate resignation as LaLiga president and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
The club described his remarks as unacceptable and extremely serious, arguing that invoking Nazi propaganda to discredit its management and television channel crossed a line.
Real Madrid also accused Tebas of repeatedly demonstrating a lack of neutrality, respect and impartiality incompatible with his institutional responsibilities.
The club further objected to what it described as Tebas’s practice of using journalists’ questions, reports and opinions to direct accusations against Real Madrid over matters for which it said the club was not responsible.
The latest confrontation follows an earlier dispute in September, when Real Madrid called for a change in LaLiga’s leadership after Tebas dismissed the club’s complaints about refereeing decisions as an attempt to divert attention from its performances on the pitch.
Tebas, 64, has led LaLiga since 2013 and was re-elected unopposed in 2023 for another term running until 2027.
Despite the escalating dispute, LaLiga confirmed on Friday that Real Madrid would be among six clubs represented on its Executive Committee for the current season.