Real Madrid have again demanded the resignation of La Liga president Javier Tebas after he compared the club's efforts to discredit referees with the propaganda techniques of the German Nazi regime. Tebas lashed out at Madrid on social media, criticising how the club's television channel regularly runs reels of what it considers gross errors by match officials who are set to work upcoming games for the 15-time European champion.
Tebas compared the tactic with those used by Joseph Goebbels, the minister of propaganda in World War II Nazi Germany. "The executive of Real Madrid has an orchestra of mouthpieces and Real Madrid leads the way," Tebas wrote. "Its script is always the same: select plays that favor it, repeat the alleged affront, increase suspicion and name enemies." He added that the comparison was with the techniques, not the ideology or Madrid fans.
Madrid responded in a statement that Tebas, who has clashed several times over the years with club president Florentino Pérez, was unfit to hold his job representing Spain's top clubs. The club demanded his "immediate resignation," saying his conduct demonstrates a lack of neutrality, respect and impartiality.
Coach José Mourinho has also voiced complaints that Madrid, which holds a record 36 Spanish league titles, is regularly hurt by referees. In September, Madrid made a similar demand after Tebas criticised the club for attacking the refereeing crew in the 2-1 loss at Atlético Madrid. Friday's statement also repeated Madrid's complaint that Tebas has not done enough over the ongoing judicial probe into Barcelona's alleged payments to an official on the refereeing committee of the Spanish federation.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing