The Spanish government has formally asked the country’s sports tribunal to investigate La Liga president Javier Tebas over social media remarks comparing Real Madrid’s communication methods to Nazi propaganda. The Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD)—Spain’s state sports council—announced on Thursday that it is acting of its own accord to submit an expediente to the Tribunal Administrativo del Deporte (TAD).
State Sports Council Petitions Tribunal Over Sports Dignity
The CSD, led by state secretary for sport José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, acted under its official competencies after Tebas published a post on the social media platform X on October 16, 2026. The La Liga chief compared Real Madrid’s communication strategy to the “propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels, minister of propaganda in Nazi Germany.”
Acting ex officio, the sports council asked the independent tribunal to determine whether the remarks violate Article 76.4.b of the 1990 Sports Law (Ley 10/1990 del Deporte). That article classifies public acts that undermine sports dignity or decorum as serious infractions. In its reasoned petition, the CSD cited TAD doctrine and Supreme Court jurisprudence regarding a civilized coexistence framework within sports that requires mutual respect among major figures.
Javier Tebas Defends Statements and Targets CSD Leadership
Tebas stood by his remarks following the government announcement, declaring on X that defending the competition requires answering those who constantly discredit it. “It is part of my responsibility. And I am going to keep exercising it,” he wrote.
The league president maintained that his October 16 post explicitly distinguished between propaganda techniques and actual ideology, adding that he expects the TAD to evaluate his complete text and context fairly. He also remarked, “Ya recordé lo sucedido con el caso Olmo y a quienes presumían, entre comidas y sus habituales foros, de que yo estaba ‘aniquilado’.” Tebas pointedly criticized Rodríguez Uribes for a perceived double standard, questioning why the CSD head has remained silent regarding accusations of corruption and match-fixing leveled by Real Madrid and its official television channel against referees and La Liga, specifically asking if accusing the refereeing system of corruption and presenting the competition as a fraud does not affect sports dignity and decorum, or if those values only deserve a public defense when someone responds to such attacks. Tebas further stated, “Lo esperábamos: cualquier excusa iba a servir.” He additionally questioned the management of the CSD by mentioning the Court of Audit to Rodríguez Uribes.
Tebas clarified that his comparison excluded both Nazi ideology and Real Madrid fans, and he previously criticized the CSD for not acting when Florentino Pérez claimed that leagues had been stolen from them due to refereeing decisions.
Transparency Association Prepares Legal Action Against CSD Officials
Parallel legal pressures are mounting against the sports ministry’s leadership. The Asociación Transparencia y Democracia en el Deporte announced plans to file a criminal complaint for alleged administrative prevarication by omission against CSD president Rodríguez Uribes and subdirector general of sports legal regime Raúl Rodríguez Porras.
Miguel Ángel Galán, president of the transparency association, asserted that nine separate complaints filed against Javier Tebas have remained stalled at the council for over a year without being forwarded to the TAD, despite statutory obligations to do so.
TAD Reviews CSD Petition for Potential Tebas Disqualification
Tebas faces the possibility of disqualification (inhabilitación) if the TAD decides to open formal disciplinary proceedings based on the CSD petition. Dismissing the government’s latest filing as “just another one,” Tebas noted on X that while the motivations change, the official persistence remains consistent. He also posted on X, “No hemos oído al secretario…”. The independent sports tribunal must now review the CSD submission to decide whether formal proceedings will advance.
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