La Liga president attacks Florentino Perez and Real Madrid – ‘I am starting to feel ashamed’ | OneFootball

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, was the main speaker at the Europa Press sports breakfast, where he addressed various topics, including refereeing and Real Madrid.

In a recent interview, Tebas went on to call Real Madrid a ‘crybaby’ club for their recent complaints against the refereeing decisions, which have cost them points in the La Liga title race.

On being asked about that, Tebas reaffirmed his stance on Real Madrid, stating: “I refer to objective data. I am a hibernating Madridista, as I have said before, but there is supposedly a worldwide and Spanish conspiracy in which everyone is against Real Madrid and their projects.

“I no longer know if this issue with referees is due to a bias against Real Madrid or a bias in favour of other clubs winning instead.”

Continuing his rant, he added: “It is no longer just about reviewing mistakes against Madrid; ask Celta Vigo in Copa del Rey – a similar situation to the ‘All OK, Jose Luis’ incident. They review plays when Madrid play against Rayo, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid…

“It is an obsession, and then they start crying. It is not true. A narrative has been built that is simply not real. Referees will make mistakes; in fact, I believe the refereeing system needs a deep reform, something we have been advocating for a long time.”

Taking aim at Florentino Perez, Tebas pointed out that the Real Madrid president never said anything when the Negreira case broke out and he was on the board of the RFEF.

“We have to analyse why I say ‘crybaby’. Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Football Federation until November 2023 and said nothing,” he said.

“The ‘Negreira case’ broke out in February 2023, and he remained a board member for eight months without speaking up. The narrative pushed by Real Madrid does not convince me.”

Questioning Real Madrid’s open letter questioning the refereeing standards in La Liga, he added:

“Now, suddenly, they send an aggressive letter, but before, they remained silent. One month after the Negreira case was revealed, we held an Assembly meeting to discuss what we believed to be the best refereeing model.

“Real Madrid did not align with the majority of clubs; they wavered, searching for a solution that suited them best.”

Further explaining why he called them a ‘crybaby club’ he added: “For me, they are crybabies because if they win, it is because they fought against the forces of good and evil. But if they lose, it is because there was a refereeing conspiracy against Real Madrid.

“I have children and grandchildren who support Madrid, and I am starting to feel ashamed of what I once experienced as a Madridista. This club has never been one to complain, and now look at them…”

Tebas has once again lashed out at Real Madrid. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images For Sportel)

Regarding Real Madrid players posing behind a banner in support of referees ahead of their La Liga game against Girona, despite the club’s ongoing war against the officiating in the league, Tebas remarked:

“Another important detail that needs to be analysed carefully: yesterday, the players stood behind the banner. Did they do it because they genuinely believed in it? I think so.”

Tebas also referenced a tweet by Real Madrid player Federico Valverde before the Manchester City game, where he clarified his stance after having earlier sympathised with the plight of referees in a press conference.

“Ask Valverde about the message he gave and then had to quickly retract. Ask him what happened that made him talk about a topic and then change his stance in a tweet an hour later,” he noted.

“There is an attempt to make all Madridistas—players, coaches, everyone – buy into a conspiracy theory that does not exist.”

Tebas argued that Real Madrid’s complaints are an insult to other clubs, saying:

“What is happening is an insult to the rest of the clubs. When a team beats Real Madrid, it is not because they played better but because the referee allegedly made decisions against Madrid on purpose.”

Commenting on Real Madrid’s recent statement, Tebas said, “Claiming that LaLiga is ‘adulterated’ is a serious accusation. We have reported this to the Competition Committee. Such statements are highly damaging.

“There are other strategic motives behind Real Madrid’s stance… What I must acknowledge is that Real Madrid’s communication team is very good. Their spokespersons, self-conducted interviews… they know how to control the narrative.”

Tebas dismissed claims that La Liga intends to ‘expatriate’ Real Madrid, saying:

“Florentino Perez is repeating the same things he said in 2021 on El Chiringuito. Four years have passed, and as far as I know, we are not bankrupt. If someone as experienced and influential as him says it, people believe it.

“Now the narrative is that Tebas and La Liga are going to expropriate Real Madrid. Who could possibly believe that?”

The La Liga president also addressed the chants directed against him at Real Madrid’s stadium, the Santiago Bernabeu.

“All the chants were perfectly orchestrated. The main orchestrator is the Pena Clásica, led by Carlos Clara, a member of Ultra Sur who was convicted two months ago for assaulting other Madridistas inside and outside the stadium,” he said.

“Maybe it is time to stop criticising Frente Atlético and look at what is happening there.

Tebas also took aim at Real Madrid’s involvement in the Super League project, saying: “An oligarchy is where the rich, those with the most money, make all the decisions. Everything Florentino is behind is tenacious and persistent.

“One day, they present an audiovisual project as something crucial, and the next day, it becomes a hidden platform that nobody even knows the colour of.

“Do you really think an industry as significant as football, with so many jobs depending on it, can be handled like that?”

When asked about his preference for the Ballon d’Or winner, Tebas responded sarcastically, “Since you all wanted to get rid of him, I will say Mbappe.”

Tebas picked Mbappe over Lamine and Vinicius. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Dismissing the possibility of La Liga being left without its two biggest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, Tebas stated:

“It is impossible. This is like young people believing the narrative that everyone is against Madrid. It is impossible – like imagining Madrid without the Puerta de Alcalá. It does not fit within European or national regulations.

“The European sports model is based on national leagues. Neither Europe nor anyone else will allow it, but there will always be people who believe it.”

Lastly, Tebas discussed referee Munuera Montero’s alleged involvement in a conflict of interest, stating:

“I do not think it is right that Sergio Sanchez, a La Liga supplier, has a business relationship with Munuera Montero.

“But why is there such a fuss about Munuera over something that is very, very minor, yet nothing is said about my fellow Board of Directors member Yolanda, the wife of Megía Dávila, who is Real Madrid’s delegate?

“Yolanda is also a member of the Technical Committee of Women’s Football Referees. Why is this not an issue? If we answer that question and reflect on it, we will realise that much of what is being said against Munuera and the referees is part of a conspiracy-driven narrative.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo