Real Madrid called for Javier Tebas to resign from his positions as LaLiga president and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation after he compared the club's media tactics to propaganda techniques used by Goebbels in posts on X. In a statement, Real Madrid said Tebas's remarks were "unacceptable".
Tebas's posts on X
Tebas wrote: "Real Madrid's management directs an orchestra of mouthpieces and Real Madrid TV leads the singing."
He also wrote: "Their score is always the same: select the plays that suit them, repeat the grievance, feed the suspicion, and point fingers at the enemies. That method recalls propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels: systematic repetition, construction of an enemy, and subordination of facts to the narrative."
Tebas said: "The comparison is with those propaganda techniques, not with an ideology or, of course, with the Madridista fanbase."
Real Madrid's response
Real Madrid CF said: "The repeated conduct of Javier Tebas shows a lack of neutrality, respect and impartiality incompatible with his institutional responsibilities."
Real Madrid CF also said: "Real Madrid CF considers it absolutely intolerable and extraordinarily serious that someone who occupies two positions of utmost responsibility in Spanish football should resort to a comparison with the propaganda methods of the Nazi regime to discredit our club, its management and its television."
Real Madrid said Tebas's clarification did not change what it called the deeply offensive, morally reprehensible or morally repugnant, and institutionally inappropriate or unworthy nature of his remarks.
Further points in the statement
Real Madrid CF said: "His constant attacks on Real Madrid and those who demand transparency and regeneration constitute, in the opinion of our club, a real scourge for Spanish football."
The Independent reported that Real said it was especially concerning that Tebas referenced the Negreira case in the X post.
The Independent reported that Real have handed a dossier to Uefa about the Negreira case.
Timing of the statement
Reuters reported that Real Madrid's statement came hours after LaLiga confirmed that Real Madrid are one of the six clubs that will sit on the league's Executive Committee this season.
The dispute followed Tebas's response to reporting and commentary about Real Madrid and LaLiga.