Javier Tebas could face disqualification from his position as La Liga president after Spain’s Higher Sports Council (CSD) filed a complaint over his comparison of Real Madrid’s communication strategy to Nazi propaganda.
According to AS, the Administrative Court of Sport (TAD) will now decide whether there are sufficient legal grounds to open an investigation that could expose Tebas to sanctions ranging from a fine to a ban lasting up to two years.
The complaint centres on comments in which Tebas compared Real Madrid’s communication methods to the “propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany”.
The case has moved to the disciplinary stage, but the TAD has yet to decide whether to proceed with an investigation.
TAD must decide whether to investigate Javier Tebas
The CSD has acted on its own initiative, arguing that Tebas’s remarks could constitute a serious offence under Article 76.4.b of Spain’s Sports Law.
Javier Tebas could find himself in trouble. (Photo by Miguel Tovar/Getty Images)
The provision covers public acts that undermine sporting dignity or decorum.
The immediate question is whether the legal grounds presented by the government body justify opening proceedings against the La Liga chief.
According to AS, there is no fixed deadline for the TAD to make that decision, with sources within the CSD indicating that similar assessments have previously taken months.
That uncertainty means Tebas’s position could remain under scrutiny for an extended period before the case advances.
The complaint itself does not establish wrongdoing, and any disciplinary consequences would depend on the tribunal’s findings and the applicable legal process.
Tebas could face a fine or a ban of up to two years
Javier Tebas’ comments on Real Madrid have backfired. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
The potential consequences are significant, as the sanctions available for a serious offence under the relevant legislation include a public reprimand, a fine ranging from €600.01 to €3,000, or disqualification from holding office for between one month and two years.
Tebas has already received a public reprimand in connection with an earlier complaint from Real Madrid, and the latest case could therefore carry consequences beyond a financial penalty if the TAD determines that a serious violation occurred.
The proceedings also revive tensions between Tebas and Real Madrid, whose disagreements with La Liga have repeatedly spilled into public debate.
The latest episode places the league president’s own conduct at the centre of a formal disciplinary assessment.