Tebas hits out at Real Madrid over La Liga opener reschedule request – ‘Already made it clear’ | OneFootball

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, has spoken out about the controversy surrounding Real Madrid’s opening match of the season, initially scheduled for 19 August against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The issue stems from Real Madrid’s formal request to postpone the game in lieu of their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Spanish capital giants argue that players are entitled to 21 days of holiday and an additional three weeks to prepare for the season – conditions they believe are not met if the match goes ahead as scheduled. They have proposed 29 October as an alternative date.

La Liga, though, informed Real Madrid this week that the league sees no reason to change the date, as requested by the club, nor does it have the authority.

Instead, the decision rests with the RFEF Competitions Committee’s Sole Judge, who has given the parties involved until Wednesday to submit the required documentation.

Tebas has his say

Speaking from Miami, where he is on a work trip, Tebas reiterated his stance that there is no justification for a date change.

“It is a decision that does not correspond to La Liga but we have already made it clear that it does not have to be changed,” said the La Liga chief.

Javier Tebas critical of Real Madrid over fixture-change request. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images For Sportel)

Continuing, Tebas added: “PSG do not change in French Ligue 1, Chelsea do not change in the English Premier League. Real Madrid wanted to have 21 days of preparation, they are going to have 20.

“I don’t think that for one day they will lose the game they are going to have with Osasuna.”

Tebas also made it clear that his presence in the United States is unrelated to the Club World Cup, a tournament he has criticised heavily for damaging domestic competitions.

“I didn’t come to watch the tournament, I came to work as I usually do with Relevant and it coincided with the tournament because there are a lot of interesting people to have meetings with,” said Tebas.

“I will watch the final but nothing else, it is not a competition I have paid much attention to.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo