“This method recalls the propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda of Nazi Germany: systematic repetition, construction of an enemy and subordination of facts to the story.» Obviously, Javier Tebas’ particularly daring declaration was not going to remain without consequences. In recent hours, the president of La Liga, tired of Real Madrid’s successive attacks on refereeing, the calendar, the Super League or even complacent media with the capital club, has bluntly compared the methods of Casa Blanca to the Hitler regime. We reached Godwin Point.
This is not the first spat between the two institutions, far from it. They have been waging a battle of ideas for many years now, often through press releases. This time, Tebas went a little further in his criticisms and his ever more noisy formulations. Real Madrid does not accept it and is outraged, in a press release published this Friday, that “a person occupying two senior positions within Spanish football could compare the club’s propaganda methods to those of the Nazi regime.»
Real exasperated
This new episode should not remain without consequences. The Merengues consider this new attack unacceptable and demand “the immediate resignation of his functions as president of LaLiga and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation» by Javier Tebas. In the rest of its press release, Real recalls its main grievances such as the Negreira affair, its request to UEFA to investigate independently, while its repeated requests to the two Spanish institutions have remained a dead letter.
Another subject that is close to Real’s heart is the overhaul of the entire Spanish arbitration system. He too often feels wronged by certain decisions for too long. For this, the club regularly uses its channel Real Madrid TV to criticize the different referees, even keeping some of them accountable. This is even the subject of mockery from his opponents. Finally, last subject, the lack of neutrality of Javier Tebas. A La Liga president should not say that. It compromises its function and weakens the organisms it represents. A new battle is declared. It could have some notable consequences.
The full Real Madrid press release:
In response to the statements of Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, in which he compares the methods of action of the management of Real Madrid to those used by Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda of the Nazi regime, and designates Real Madrid Television as an instrument of this so-called strategy, Real Madrid CF declares the following:
Real Madrid CF considers it absolutely intolerable and extremely serious that a person occupying two positions of responsibility within Spanish football could compare the club’s propaganda methods to those of the Nazi regime in order to discredit it, its management and its television channel. The fact that he clarifies that he is not referring to Nazi ideology in no way mitigates the deeply offensive, morally repugnant and unworthy of the institution nature of his remarks.
These statements constitute a new episode in Javier Tebas’ repeated attacks against Real Madrid, its president and its media. It is unacceptable that he uses questions, information or opinions from journalists outside the club to make denigrating remarks against us, attributing to us the actions of third parties for which we are in no way responsible.
It is particularly serious that Tebas uses these statements to question the legitimacy of the actions of Real Madrid and Real Madrid Television in the Negreira affair.
Faced with the lack of reaction, the exceptional seriousness of this matter, from the two institutions where Javier Tebas occupies positions of primary importance, our club had to contact UEFA directly to demand an in-depth investigation into the payments made for years by FC Barcelona to the vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees, as well as the adoption of the necessary measures to guarantee the integrity of the competitions.
Real Madrid also demands a complete overhaul of the refereeing system and the governance, management, supervision and disciplinary structures of the federation, with the replacement of people who held positions of responsibility during this period.
It is particularly significant that Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the organization to which the Technical Committee of Referees belongs, is working to discredit Real Madrid instead of promoting, within the framework of his institutional responsibilities, the clarification of these very serious facts and the necessary overhaul of Spanish football.
The repeated behavior of Javier Tebas demonstrates a lack of neutrality, respect and impartiality incompatible with his institutional responsibilities. His incessant attacks against Real Madrid and those who demand transparency and reform constitute, in the opinion of our club, a real scourge for Spanish football.
For all these reasons, Real Madrid CF considers that the repeated statements and behavior of Javier Tebas would be unacceptable in any European sporting institution governed by the principles of respect, neutrality and integrity, and that they institutionally disqualify him from continuing to occupy the functions he holds.
Therefore, Real Madrid CF demands his immediate resignation as President of LaLiga and Vice President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
Real Madrid CF will continue to defend its rights, its institutional prestige, the complete clarification of the Negreira affair and the necessary regeneration of Spanish football.
