Real Madrid have demanded the immediate resignation of La Liga president Javier Tebas after comparing the club’s communication strategy to that of Joseph Goebbels.
Tebas made the comments at length social media post on Fridaycomparing the approach of the Madrid hierarchy and the management of its internal television channel with the techniques used by the Nazi propaganda minister.
He wrote: “of Real Madrid the management conducts an orchestra of mouthpieces and Real Madrid TV leads the singing.
“Their score is always the same: select the plays that suit them, repeat the grievance, feed the suspicion and point the finger at the enemies.
“This method is reminiscent of the propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels, the propaganda minister of Nazi Germany: systematic repetition, construction of an enemy and subordination of facts to narrative.”
Real Madrid: Statement by Javier Tebas
Tebas insisted he was simply comparing “propaganda techniques” and “not an ideology”.
But his comments have prompted an angry response from Madrid, who have made clear their belief that the comments should disqualify Tebas from his position as head of LaLiga and vice-president of the Real Spanish Football Federation.RFEF).
Madrid said in a statement“In response to the statements of Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga and vice-president of the Real Spanish Football Federation, in which he compares the methods of the management of Real Madrid with those employed by Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda of the Nazi regime, and points to Real Madrid TV as an instrument of this alleged strategy, Real Madrid CF declares the following:
“Real Madrid CF considers it absolutely intolerable and extraordinarily serious that someone who holds two positions of the highest responsibility in Spanish football resorts to a comparison with the propaganda methods of the Nazi regime to discredit our club, its management and its television. The clarification that it does not refer to Nazi ideology does not mitigate the deeply offensive, nature and morally unworthy of his institutional statements.
“These statements constitute another episode of the repeated attacks by Javier Tebas against Real Madrid, its president, and its media. It is unacceptable that he even takes advantage of questions, information or opinions of journalists outside the club to direct his accusations at us, attributing to us the actions of third parties for which we are not responsible.
“It is particularly worrying that Tebas is using these statements to question the legitimate actions of Real Madrid and Real Madrid TV in relation to the Negreira case.
“Given the lack of response to the extraordinary seriousness of the Negreira case by the two institutions where Javier Tebas holds positions of maximum relevance, our club has had to approach UEFA directly to request a full clarification of the payments made over the years by FC. Barcelona to the vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees and the adoption of the necessary measures to guarantee the integrity of the competitions.
“Real Madrid also demands a comprehensive reform of the arbitration system and the federative structures of governance, management, supervision and discipline, through the renewal of those who held positions of responsibility during this period.
“It is particularly significant that Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, an organization that includes the Technical Committee of Referees, dedicates his efforts to discrediting Real Madrid instead of promoting, from his institutional responsibilities, the clarification of these very serious facts and the necessary regeneration of Spanish football.
“The repeated behavior of Javier Tebas demonstrates a lack of neutrality, respect and impartiality incompatible with his institutional responsibilities. His constant attacks on Real Madrid and those who call for transparency and regeneration represent, for our club, a real scourge for Spanish football.
“For all these reasons, Real Madrid CF considers that the repeated statements and behavior of Javier Tebas would be unacceptable in any European sports institution governed by principles of respect, neutrality and integrity, and that it disqualifies him institutionally from continuing to hold the positions he holds.
“Consequently, Real Madrid CF requests his immediate resignation as president of LaLiga and vice-president of the Real Spanish Football Federation.
“Real Madrid CF will continue to defend its rights, its institutional prestige, the full clarification of the Negreira case and the necessary regeneration of Spanish football.”