Real Madrid say Tebas must resign over Goebbels comparison

MADRID: Real Madrid called on Friday for La Liga president Javier Tebas to resign after he compared the club's efforts to discredit referees to the techniques of Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.

Tebas said in a post on X on Friday that Real Madrid's in-house TV channel often suggested that referees attempt to prevent the club from winning.

The outspoken Spanish league chief said these tactics "recall propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels."

Tebas later attempted to clarify that he was drawing comparisons with "those propaganda techniques" and not with the ideology of the Nazis.

Madrid responded by saying in a statement that Tebas' claims were "deeply offensive (and) morally repugnant."

It added that Madrid believe he is unfit to represent Spain's leading clubs and that he should consider "immediate resignation."

Coach Jose Mourinho has also claimed that Madrid are consistently penalised by referees.

Tebas has frequently clashed with Madrid's president Florentino Perez, especially over the club's plans to join a European Super League in 2021. - AFP