Real Madrid demanded the resignation of LaLiga president Javier Tebas after he compared the club’s criticism of referees to Nazi propaganda techniques. The 15-time Champions League winners issued a statement on Friday calling Tebas’s language “deeply offensive” and “morally repugnant,” escalating tensions ahead of this weekend’s El Clasico at Camp Nou.
Tebas had linked Real Madrid’s use of their in-house TV channel to question refereeing decisions with “propaganda techniques” used by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi regime’s propaganda minister. In response, Tebas doubled down on social media, accusing Real Madrid of “intimidation” and trying to “destroy” the Spanish league.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta weighed in, criticising Real Madrid for “constantly attacking” LaLiga and praising Tebas as a “counter” to Madrid’s accusations. The rivalry between the two clubs has intensified amid ongoing disputes over refereeing integrity and payments to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Spanish refereeing committee.
Real Madrid demands a “full clarification” over €7.3m (£6.5m) paid by Barcelona to Negreira between 2001 and 2018. The club recently submitted a “50,000-page” dossier to UEFA, alleging concerns about the integrity of the competition and refereeing. Barcelona and Negreira deny any wrongdoing and were cleared by UEFA investigators in 2023. Laporta maintains the payments related to consultancy work and referee reports, but Real Madrid president Florentino Perez accused Barcelona of “stealing” seven league titles from his club earlier this year.
The rivalry’s friction increased after Barcelona withdrew from the European Super League in February, leaving Real Madrid as the only founding member still involved.
The first Clasico of the season arrives as Barcelona lead LaLiga by six points after winning their first 11 matches under Hansi Flick, before a recent defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Real Madrid, under new manager Jose Mourinho, face pressure to stop a Barcelona side that has scored 50 goals in 12 games. Mourinho returns to Camp Nou for the first time as Real Madrid coach since leaving the club in 2013.
Mourinho fuelled the narrative of conflict in Spanish football earlier this week, holding a press conference after Real Madrid’s 2-1 derby loss at Atletico Madrid. He pointed to two incidents in the first half where Atletico should have had red cards, involving Cristian Romero’s challenge on Jude Bellingham and Lee Kang-in’s foul on Federico Valverde. Any refereeing controversy in the Clasico could ignite further tensions.
Amid the off-pitch disputes, the fixture will also spotlight the individual stars. The match features Kylian Mbappe against Lamine Yamal, and midfield battles including Jude Bellingham and Rodri. Yamal could have a defining moment at Camp Nou on the eve of the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London. Real Madrid’s players, notably Vinicius Jr, will be keen to respond after missing out on the award two years ago.
The buildup to this season’s El Clasico shows that the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona extends well beyond the pitch, with disputes over league governance and refereeing threatening to overshadow the game itself.
According to Yahoo Sports.
