Real Madrid’s complaint over La Liga chief’s Nazi slant sent to tribunal

La Liga president Javier Tebas could face disciplinary action after comparing Real Madrid's communication to Nazi propaganda, with Spain's sports council referring the matter to the country's sports tribunal.

The CSD said it had passed Real Madrid's complaint to the Administrative Court for Sport (TAD), which must determine whether Tebas's comments constitute a serious offence under Spain's sports law. 'It is essential to preserve the values that make sport a space of respect,' the CSD said in a statement.

Tebas, 64, made the comparison in a post on the social media platform X on October 16, accusing Real Madrid's in-house television channel of suggesting that referees attempt to prevent the club from winning. He said the club's tactics 'recall propaganda mechanisms' exploited under the Nazi regime.

Real Madrid called for Tebas to resign over the remarks. The club criticises referees on its television channel most weeks, and last year accused officials of bias against them.

Tebas later sought to clarify that he had been drawing a comparison with 'those propaganda techniques' rather than equating the club with the Nazis, and reiterated his position in another post on Thursday. He also questioned why Madrid, in accusing the refereeing system of corruption, did not consider the harm to clubs, referees and millions of fans.

La Liga did not immediately respond to a request for comment.