Javier Tebas Fires Back at Real Madrid’s Refereeing Narrative: “Get the Blinders Off!”

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has launched a strong response to the ongoing debate surrounding Real Madrid and refereeing in Spanish football, rejecting what he sees as another attempt to build a permanent conspiracy narrative around the club.

Tebas criticised the repeated focus on issues such as the Negreira case, refereeing appointments and whether officials hold international status, arguing that both international and non-international referees can officiate LaLiga matches.

“No club has the right to on-demand refereeing,” Tebas argued, insisting that refereeing should not be influenced by a club’s commercial importance or profile.

The LaLiga president also took aim at claims that refereeing mistakes are damaging “the business that feeds them.” Tebas questioned what such an argument would actually imply, asking whether referees should make decisions based on revenue, television audiences or the size of a club’s badge.

For Tebas, that would raise fundamental questions about equality within the competition.

He acknowledged Real Madrid’s importance to LaLiga but rejected the idea that the competition would be meaningless without the Spanish giants. According to Tebas, such a narrative shows disregard for the league’s other clubs, supporters and histories.

“The competition belongs to no one,” was the message behind his argument.

Tebas also dismissed the suggestion that referees are deliberately directed against Real Madrid, describing the conspiracy narrative as an excuse that can distract from issues happening on the pitch.

His central argument was that a refereeing mistake should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a coordinated campaign.

“A refereeing error doesn't prove a conspiracy, nor does repeating it for years turn it into truth,” Tebas stated.

With the 2026/27 LaLiga season still in its early stages, Tebas ended his message by criticising the speed with which claims that the competition has already been “adulterated” have emerged.

“GET THE BLINDERS OFF!” he concluded, arguing that the recurring conspiracy narrative should not become the explanation for every controversial refereeing decision.