LaLiga president Javier Tebas has once again found himself at the center of controversy following the aftermath of the Madrid derby between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, which Atlético won 2-1 amid strong complaints from the Spanish giants and head coach José Mourinho over several refereeing decisions.
Tebas said he understood Real Madrid’s complaints about certain decisions, but criticized the way those complaints were expressed. He also argued that Real Madrid did not lose the match because of the controversial refereeing incidents.
The LaLiga president went further on Tuesday, rejecting claims that referees are deliberately targeting Real Madrid. Tebas said that believing referees are "directed against Real Madrid" is like "living in another galaxy", while stressing that a refereeing mistake does not prove the existence of a conspiracy.
Tebas also acknowledged Real Madrid’s importance to LaLiga, but insisted that the competition represents all of its clubs, supporters and history. He argued that the league does not belong to any single club and that equality must apply across the competition.
The dispute intensified after Real Madrid released a statement criticizing Tebas and accusing him of repeatedly targeting the club. Tebas responded by defending his independence and insisting that representing all LaLiga clubs means defending equality and applying the same principles to everyone.
The latest exchange adds another chapter to the long-running dispute between Real Madrid and the LaLiga president, with refereeing, competition management and the relationship between the league and Spain’s biggest clubs remaining at the heart of the debate.