The friction stems from Real Madrid's 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid last Sunday. Following the match, the club expressed significant frustration with the refereeing, a stance that drew a sharp public rebuke from Tebas. Madrid’s leadership responded by accusing the league president of abusing his institutional position to discredit the club, arguing that his conduct is incompatible with the neutrality required of his office.
A Call for New Leadership and Neutrality
In their official statement, Real Madrid emphasized that the presidency of La Liga is a managerial role serving the collective interests of all member clubs, rather than a position of ownership. The club asserted that Spanish football is in urgent need of a leader who understands the fundamental duty of impartiality. They characterized Tebas’ ongoing public criticism of their institution as both "intolerable" and damaging to the image of Spanish football on the global stage.
The conflict intensified after Tebas took to social media to dismiss Madrid’s grievances. Responding to reports of an alleged conspiracy against the club, Tebas stated that claims of referees targeting Real Madrid were "living in another galaxy." He further suggested that the club’s focus on officiating was merely a "smokescreen" intended to distract from their own performance shortcomings during the opening rounds of the season.
Escalating Tensions Following Derby Defeat
The dispute was ignited by comments from Real Madrid coach José Mourinho, who used his post-match press conference on Sunday to highlight what he described as "two clear red cards" that were not issued to Atletico players. Mourinho spent several minutes detailing a series of "strange" incidents he claims have affected his team, both in the current season and in the past.
The atmosphere surrounding the derby has become increasingly toxic, with Atletico Madrid also entering the fray. On Monday, the club posted a message on social media calling for an end to "refereeing harassment," accompanied by a video featuring an image of Mourinho. As the fallout continues, Real Madrid currently sits in fourth place in the La Liga standings, trailing league leaders Barcelona by six points after seven rounds of play.
