In a dramatic escalation of tensions at the highest levels of Spanish football, La Liga president Javier Tebas has launched a searing public attack against Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. With just days to go before the highly anticipated Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Tebas has taken the gloves off in a rare, unfiltered statement that lays bare the growing animosity between two of Spanish football's most powerful figures arguably, in football history.
Tebas, a long-time critic of Fiorentino Pérez and his leadership style, accused the Real Madrid president of manipulating the football ecosystem to serve his own personal agenda. In a social media post that quickly went viral across Spain and the spanish media and beyond, Tebas declared:
"He doesn't protest, he pushes. He doesn't complain, he threatens. He doesn't disagree, he punishes. He doesn't want to improve football, he wants his own football."
The statement reflects years of mounting frustration within La Liga about what many view as Pérez’s increasingly authoritarian influence over the direction of Spanish football. According to Tebas, this latest conflict isn’t just about referees or media narratives — it’s about the core values of the game itself and controversies.
The immediate trigger for Tebas’s outburst appears to be Real Madrid’s behavior in the buildup to the Copa del Rey final. Reports indicate that Real Madrid players skipped a training session at La Cartuja — the official stadium for the final — and have opted out of participating in the customary pre-match events and press conferences. Additionally, leaks from within the club suggest that Pérez himself will not be attending the final, in what many interpret as a deliberate snub.
This protest comes in response to mounting criticism directed at Real Madrid TV — the club’s official media outlet — which recently published a video aggressively questioning the integrity of referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who has been appointed to officiate the final. The video accused Bengoetxea of having a long-standing bias against the club, citing various controversial decisions from past matches.
The video had a deeply personal impact. In an emotional interview, the referee revealed the toll that this kind of targeted harassment has taken on him and his family. The refereeing community has since expressed outrage, with some officials even considering strike action unless action is taken to rein in media-driven attacks from club channels.
Tebas referenced this situation in his statement, arguing that Real Madrid’s refusal to support referee reforms stems from the fact that such changes wouldn’t align with Pérez’s vision for the game. “They do not want to move forward with the referees reform because it is not what he wants,” he wrote.
This latest controversy is not an isolated incident. It is merely the latest chapter in a long-running power struggle between Tebas and Pérez — a feud that has repeatedly shaped the political landscape of Spanish and European football.
The most prominent flashpoint came during the European Super League saga. Pérez was one of the chief architects of the breakaway competition, which threatened to dismantle the current structure of UEFA competitions. Tebas was one of the most vocal opponents of the plan, labeling it a “death sentence” for the sport’s competitive integrity. Although the project ultimately failed in the face of public backlash, the bad blood between the two leaders never subsided.
Tebas has since accused Pérez of continuing to push the Super League agenda behind the scenes and using his influence to undermine both La Liga and UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. In his recent statement, Tebas didn’t hold back:
"He [Pérez] doesn't like Tebas because he doesn't do what he wants... He doesn't like Čeferin because he doesn't do what he wants... He doesn't like TV commentators because they don't say what he wants..."
The La Liga president also lamented what he described as a culture of complicity within the sport — suggesting that too many people “allow it, consent to it, and help him.”
What’s Next?
As Real Madrid prepare to face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, the build-up has been overshadowed by this off-field storm. The tension is palpable, and questions linger over how this confrontation will impact future relations between La Liga and one of its most influential clubs.
There are broader implications as well. With referees feeling under siege, media narratives being weaponized, and club officials engaging in public power plays, many are wondering whether Spanish football can function effectively under such strain. The fallout from Tebas’s statement could be significant, especially if it prompts further action from within the footballing authorities or a reaction from Pérez himself.
For now, though, one thing is certain: this is no longer just a football match. It is a battle over who gets to define what Spanish football is — and what it will become.
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