Spain's Superior Sports Council (CSD) has referred La Liga president Javier Tebas to the Administrative Sports Tribunal (TAD) over his comments about Real Madrid TV. The referral, made on October 22, follows Tebas's controversial social media post on October 16 where he compared the club channel's communication strategy to Nazi propaganda techniques used by Joseph Goebbels.
The governing body believes the remarks may constitute a serious infringement of Article 76.4.b of the Sports Law, which penalises notorious and public acts that violate sporting dignity or decorum. CSD president José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes openly criticised the comparison and called for an apology. Real Madrid reacted with an official statement demanding Tebas's immediate resignation.
Tebas's defence
The league chief denied comparing ideologies, insisting his reference was solely to propaganda methods. "Defending the competition also requires responding to those who constantly discredit it. It's part of my responsibility." stated Tebas. He warned he would continue defending La Liga against those he believes seek to discredit it.
The TAD is now tasked with reviewing the case and determining if rules were broken. Potential sanctions range from a warning or fine to suspension from his role. The process begins as the Spanish national team enjoys a strong run of form, with four consecutive wins, the latest a 1-2 victory over Croatia on October 6 featuring a Mikel Merino brace. This run of four wins and zero defeats also includes a victory over the Czech Republic (3-1), another win against Croatia (4-1), and a triumph over England (2-3).
In the October 6 match, Croatia took the lead through Ivan Perišić in the 17th minute, but Mikel Merino, assisted first by Daniel Olmo Carvajal and then by Martín Zubimendi, scored Spain's two goals for the comeback. Three days earlier, in the 3-1 win over the Czech Republic, the goals came from Lamine Yamal, Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, and again Mikel Merino. The national side, which leads its qualifying group, now prepares for its next fixture away to the Czech Republic on November 12. Forward Mikel Oyarzabal is the top scorer this season with five goals in eight appearances. The institutional controversy contrasts sharply with La Roja's excellent current form on the pitch.
The original report is at Straits Times Sport
