La Liga President Tebas Rejects Real Madrid Refereeing Conspiracy Claims

La Liga president Javier Tebas has rejected suggestions that referees are deliberately targeting Real Madrid, describing claims of a refereeing “conspiracy” as an excuse for the club’s difficult start to the season.

Tebas made the comments on Tuesday, September 22, following Real Madrid’s 2–1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Madrid derby on Sunday.

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho strongly criticised the officiating after the match and brought printed images to his post-match press conference showing two incidents he believed should have resulted in Atlético players being sent off. The incidents involved Cristian Romero’s challenge on Jude Bellingham and Lee Kang-in’s challenge on Federico Valverde.

Real Madrid were subsequently reduced to 10 men when defender Dean Huijsen was sent off following a VAR review for a foul on Giuliano Simeone, with Atlético going on to win 2–1.

Responding on social media to an article supporting Real Madrid’s position, Tebas rejected the suggestion that referees were being directed against the club.

He accused what he described as Real Madrid's “mouthpieces” and “regime’s television” of promoting what he called a recurring conspiracy narrative.

Tebas argued that Real Madrid’s importance to Spanish football did not give the club or its supporters a special claim over refereeing decisions, saying that the competition “belongs to no one.”

He also said claims that referees were deliberately acting against Real Madrid were “living in another galaxy” and suggested that the narrative was being used to divert attention from problems on the pitch.

The refereeing controversy has nevertheless continued. Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees reportedly concluded that Lee Kang-in should have been sent off for his challenge on Valverde, while maintaining that Romero’s challenge on Bellingham warranted only a yellow card.

Real Madrid has also publicly criticised the officiating, saying the decisions involving Romero and Kang-in influenced the derby.

The defeat left Real Madrid six points behind league leaders Barcelona, adding to pressure around the club’s early-season form.

The dispute has also reignited the long-running tension between Tebas and Real Madrid, with the club subsequently calling for his dismissal and criticising his comments.