La Liga president Javier Tebas has responded to claims of a refereeing conspiracy against Real Madrid, describing them as akin to "living in another galaxy." The controversy arose after Real manager Jose Mourinho criticized officials for key errors following a 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid last week. Mourinho presented screenshots during his post-match news conference, alleging that Atletico should have received two red cards in the first half.
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In reaction to media claims about a supposed conspiracy, Tebas rejected the allegations on social media, stating, "Claiming that referees are directed against Real Madrid is living in another galaxy. That narrative serves as an excuse to cover up other shortcomings that are plain to see in these first matches of the season. It's more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what's happening on the pitch."
Real Madrid, in a statement, labeled Tebas' remarks as "intolerable" and deemed them "particularly serious and incomprehensible." The club expressed surprise at the La Liga president's dedication to publicly undermining Real Madrid, arguing that such actions harm the image of Spanish football and its competition globally. They called for a leader who can manage professional football with integrity and maintain neutrality.
At present, Real Madrid stands fourth in La Liga, trailing Barcelona by six points, with Barcelona leading the table after winning all seven of their matches this season. After the defeat against Atletico, which saw defender Dean Huijsen receive a red card, Mourinho reiterated his concerns regarding officiating, stating, "We can skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here," while showing media the printed images. "Those were two clear red cards. Given the difficulties we faced afterwards playing 11 against 10, we can only imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against nine would have been like."
Tebas has previously criticized Real Madrid and its president Florentino Perez, particularly after their plans to join a European Super League were announced in 2021. In 2025, he remarked that Real had "lost their head" after the club filed a formal complaint to the Spanish FA regarding officiating in the league.