Real Madrid say Nazi comparison unacceptable demand La Liga president’s resignation

By Dare Babalola

Real Madrid have demanded the immediate resignation of La Liga president Javier Tebas over his comparison of the club’s communication strategy to propaganda techniques used by Nazi Germany.
The Spanish giants described Tebas’ remarks as offensive and incompatible with the neutrality expected of a football administrator, escalating their long-running dispute with the league chief.
In a statement published on its official X account on Friday, the club condemned the comparison, insisting that Tebas’ explanation that he was referring only to propaganda techniques and not Nazi ideology did not make his comments acceptable.
“Real Madrid CF considers it absolutely intolerable and extraordinarily serious that someone holding two positions of utmost responsibility in Spanish football resorts to a comparison with the propaganda methods of the Nazi regime to discredit our club, its management, and its television,” the statement said.
The dispute began after Tebas criticised Real Madrid’s communication strategy on social media, accusing the club’s management of coordinating public statements and using Real Madrid TV to promote its narrative.
He argued that the approach involved repeatedly highlighting grievances, creating suspicion and portraying opponents as enemies.
Tebas said the methods recalled techniques used by Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s propaganda minister, including systematic repetition and the construction of an enemy. He clarified that his comparison concerned those methods rather than Nazi ideology or Real Madrid supporters.
Real Madrid rejected the distinction, describing the remarks as another example of what it called repeated attacks by Tebas against the club, its president and its media outlets.
The club also linked the dispute to the long-running Negreira case involving payments made by Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice-president of Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees.
Real Madrid said it had approached UEFA to demand a full investigation into the payments, arguing that the case required greater scrutiny from football authorities.

“It is especially concerning that Tebas uses these statements to question the legitimate actions of Real Madrid and Real Madrid TV in relation to the Negreira case,” the club said.
Beyond demanding Tebas’ resignation as La Liga president and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Real Madrid called for a comprehensive overhaul of the refereeing system and relevant federation structures.
The club argued that Tebas’ comments raised questions about his impartiality and ability to discharge his institutional responsibilities.
Tebas’ remarks and Real Madrid’s response have intensified tensions between the club and the La Liga leadership, with the Spanish giants insisting that his continued presence in both positions is untenable.