Tebas defends his comparison of Real Madrid TV with Goebbels

Tebas defended his comparison between Real Madrid TV and the methods of Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s propaganda minister. “These techniques are studied in faculties of journalism and communication,” he argued. After his remarks, Real Madrid called for his resignation. Hours later, EFE reported that the CSD could act on its own initiative against the LaLiga president — a possibility, not an announced decision.

The LaLiga president had already responded on Friday with two messages on X, before returning to the issue on Saturday. He clarified that his comparison concerned propaganda methods associated with Goebbels, not an ideology or Real Madrid supporters. “The comparison is with these propaganda techniques, not an ideology and, of course, not the Madrid fans,” he wrote. He says he has denounced their use in Real Madrid TV’s communications and by its mouthpieces, citing examples.

Tebas also stressed that these methods are part of journalism and communication studies, including analysis of their use today. Supporting that explanation, the course outline for a compulsory first-year journalism subject for the 2025-2026 academic year includes an exercise on “the modern-day application of Goebbels’s 11 principles of propaganda”.

The dispute comes amid tensions between Real Madrid and Tebas. On the eve of a Liga match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC, José Mourinho sharply criticised the official after his comparison. Real Madrid described the remarks as “absolutely intolerable and extraordinarily serious”, objecting to a Spanish football official invoking Nazi propaganda methods to discredit the club, its leadership and its television channel.

Mourinho also reacted bluntly: “You already know what I think. He can only be excused if this is a clinical case.” He added that otherwise there was “no justification, no excuse”, and said supporters were increasingly understanding what Real Madrid was facing. Miguel Galán, president of the Association for Democracy and Transparency in Sport, has also denounced Tebas in similar terms.