Tebas accuses Real Madrid’s leadership of promoting a victimhood narrative

Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, has accused Real Madrid’s leadership of building a narrative in which the club is portrayed as a victim, with Real Madrid TV acting as its main amplifier. In a new post, he says the calls and pressure raised in current debates are not a thing of the past, and criticises what he describes as communications that select footage, repeat grievances and identify enemies.

The intervention followed an El Debate report about Real Madrid’s complaints over LaLiga scheduling, particularly the timing of the match against Valencia on November 7. Another article by the same outlet concerned Negreira and the refereeing received by Real Madrid. Tebas also directed criticism at the journalists who signed the report, Tomás Gonzalez Martin and Jesus Urdiola. He accused them of echoing the club’s leadership and described Tomás as having become its “official mouthpiece.”

The LaLiga president extended his criticism to Real Madrid TV. He likened some communication methods to propaganda techniques associated with Goebbels, while clarifying that the comparison was about those techniques, not an ideology or Real Madrid supporters. He faulted the channel for not providing a complete analysis of matches and for failing to apply the same scrutiny to refereeing errors that could harm other clubs or benefit Real Madrid.

Tebas argues that the club is continually cast as a victim and that the Negreira case is used to explain any decision it dislikes. On scheduling, he called for the publication of how many requests Real Madrid has made to change match dates or kick-off times, which were accepted and which were not. He also wants a record of requests connected to events permitted under the “super licence” at the Santiago Bernabéu, including the responses and their reasons.

He noted that scheduling also affects opponents, other clubs, supporters and the competition’s audiovisual commitments. In his view, a request does not automatically create an entitlement to a change, and a refusal does not prove persecution. He concluded by urging Tomás and Real Madrid TV to examine the club’s requests and the responses, rather than focusing on footage alleging unfair treatment.