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LaLiga President Javier Tebas announced on Thursday that the league will take legal action against Real Madrid following the club’s protest letter criticizing refereeing decisions. Tebas accused Real Madrid of attempting to undermine the competition and claimed the club had "lost its mind."
Speaking after a meeting with the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), and other professional clubs—excluding Real Madrid, who opted out—Tebas revealed that LaLiga’s legal team is evaluating whether the lawsuit will target the club as a whole, the letter’s signatories, or the board of directors.
“We cannot allow this kind of letter. It contains falsehoods and half-truths meant to influence matters where they have no business interfering. They’ve lost their minds,” Tebas stated.
Real Madrid's letter was sent after their 1-0 defeat to Espanyol, in which they contested a non-call on Espanyol defender Carlos Romero for a challenge on Kylian Mbappé. The club also requested access to VAR audio related to the foul and a disallowed goal by Vinícius Júnior, alleging systematic bias against them.
Tebas criticized Real Madrid TV for fostering a climate of hostility by branding referees as "corrupt" and alleging that the league is “adulterated.” He also addressed Atlético Madrid’s sarcastic social media comments about Real Madrid, attributing the growing tensions to Los Blancos.
“They are against everything. They are creating a toxic narrative to serve their own interests,” Tebas remarked. “What Atlético is doing may be ironic, but we all know where this is coming from and why.”
Reconciliation between LaLiga and Real Madrid appears unlikely, with Tebas taking a jab at club president Florentino Pérez, stating, “The president of Real Madrid always wants to be right. Apparently, we all have to bow before the ACS offices and thank him for saving football.”
On the subject of refereeing reforms, Tebas said LaLiga is considering the creation of an independent refereeing body similar to those in the Premier League and Bundesliga. However, he dismissed the idea of hiring foreign referees for LaLiga matches.
Meanwhile, RFEF President Rafael Louzán also weighed in, condemning Real Madrid’s actions and urging unity among clubs. “Today, every professional club in Spain has condemned the behavior of Real Madrid. This is not the way forward. We need dialogue and constructive reforms,” Louzán said in a radio interview.
With tensions escalating between LaLiga and one of its most successful clubs, the legal battle could further strain relations between Real Madrid and the league’s governing body. The coming weeks will determine whether this conflict leads to significant changes in Spanish football’s officiating structure or deepens the divide between the league and its most prominent team.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / Jossué Trejo, Pexels / Balazs Bezeczky
