La Liga president Javier Tebas has dismissed claims that referees are working against Real Madrid, comparing the suggestion to “living in another galaxy”. His remarks came in response to a Spanish media article alleging a conspiracy against the club, and amount to a direct rebuke of the position taken by Real’s manager, Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho accused officials of making key errors after his side were beaten 2-1 by rivals Atletico Madrid last week. He arrived at his post-match news conference with printouts of screenshots, arguing that Atletico should have been shown two red cards in the first half.
Tebas rejected that interpretation outright. “Claiming that referees are directed against Real Madrid is living in another galaxy,” the La Liga president wrote on social media. “That narrative serves as an excuse to cover up other shortcomings that are plain to see in these first matches of the season. It’s more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what’s happening on the pitch.”
Mourinho had made his case to the media in unusually direct fashion, using printed images rather than a conventional summary of the match. “We can skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here,” he said as he showed the images. “Those were two clear red cards. Given the difficulties we faced afterwards playing 11 against 10, we can only imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against nine would have been like.”
The defeat by Atletico left Real Madrid fourth in La Liga, six points behind Barcelona, who top the table on 21 points after winning all seven of their league games this season. Real finished the derby with 10 men in a feisty encounter after defender Dean Huijsen was sent off.
The exchange is the latest chapter in a strained relationship between Tebas and Real Madrid. The La Liga president has criticised the club and its president, Florentino Perez, in previous years after disagreeing with their plans to join a European Super League in 2021. In 2025, he said Real had “lost their head” after the club sent a formal letter of complaint to the Spanish FA about officiating in the league.