LaLiga president Javier Tebas rebuked Real Madrid’s accusations of a refereeing conspiracy after the club’s loss to Atletico Madrid, calling the narrative a smokescreen that distracts from on‑field shortcomings. The league chief emphasized that no club can choose its officials and warned against undermining the competition’s integrity.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas launched a forceful rebuttal on September 22, 2026, against Real Madrid’s media campaign alleging a systematic refereeing conspiracy following the club’s derby defeat to Atletico Madrid. In a statement posted on the league’s official channels, Tebas described the claims as a "smokescreen" designed to mask the team’s technical problems in the opening weeks of the season (source 2).
Tebas specifically targeted Real’s use of its own outlet, Real Madrid TV, and social platforms such as X and LinkedIn, accusing the club of “stoking unrest” and perpetuating a “permanent conspiracy” narrative (source 1). He dismissed the notion that referees are being directed against the Blancos, likening the belief to “living in another galaxy” and insisting that every LaLiga club is subject to the same officiating standards, whether the referee is international or not (source 2).
The league chief also rebuked Real’s claim that LaLiga would be worthless without the Spanish record champions, calling it contemptuous toward other clubs, their fans, and the competition’s history (source 1). While acknowledging Real Madrid’s commercial importance, Tebas emphasized that the league’s value does not hinge on a single team (source 2).
Highlighting the “cruel” pressure Real Madrid has placed on referees, Tebas warned that repeated calls for bias serve as an alibi for the club’s on‑field shortcomings, noting that a refereeing error does not prove a conspiracy, even if it recurs over years (source 3).
By framing the accusations as a distraction, Tebas urged Real Madrid and its supporters to “take off the blindfold” and focus on the actual performance issues evident in the season’s early matches (source 1). The statement underscores LaLiga’s stance that the competition belongs to all its clubs, not just its most prominent members.