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The president of the Spanish football league "La Liga", Javier Tebas, was referred on Thursday to the Administrative Court of Sport in Spain, following his comparison of Real Madrid's media methods to "Nazi propaganda mechanisms".
The Spanish radio station "Cadena SER" reported that the Higher Council for Sports referred Tebas's statements to the court to examine the extent to which they violate sports regulations, particularly the rules related to upholding sports dignity and reputation.
The referral came after a post by Tebas on the "X" platform on October 16, in which he criticized the media approach of Real Madrid TV, comparing its methods to the propaganda used by Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany.
He stated that these methods "are based on systematic repetition, creating an enemy, and subjecting facts to a specific narrative," explaining that the comparison concerns propaganda and media communication, and does not mean comparing the club or its fans to the Nazi regime.
In a statement, Real Madrid demanded Tebas's immediate resignation, describing the comparison as "unacceptable and dangerous," especially since it came from the president of the league and vice-president of the Spanish Football Federation.
The club also called for a comprehensive reform of the refereeing system and the administrative, oversight, and disciplinary structures in Spanish football.
In turn, the president of the Higher Council for Sports, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, described the comparison as "terrible," demanding that Tebas apologize and correct his statements.
Responding to the referral, Tebas defended his position, criticizing the Council for, in his words, ignoring accusations made by Real Madrid officials and its channel against the league and the refereeing system regarding corruption and match-fixing.
He emphasized that defending the competition requires responding to those who question its integrity, stressing that he will continue to fulfill his responsibilities.
The referral comes amidst ongoing disputes between the league and Real Madrid regarding refereeing and the management of the competition.
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