Tebas slams Madrid for referee pressure before the Cup final: "This is not football, it's control of power"

The president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, did not want to remain on the sidelines of the great controversy that is shaking Spanish football in recent hours and that directly involves Real Madrid and the refereeing establishment. All this, a few hours before the dispute of the Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona at the La Cartuja stadium (Seville). The atmosphere prior to the decisive duel is charged with tension and uncertainty.

The origin of the controversy: Real Madrid TV and the referees

• 📌 The controversy broke out after the referees Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and Pablo González Fuertes publicly condemned the use of Real Madrid TV videos as a tool of pressure and harassment against the refereeing group. Both even suggested that measures could be taken to stop this practice.
• 📌 In response, the 'merengue' team showed its deep discontent with the situation and would have considered the option of requesting a change in the refereeing team designated for the final. However, this option apparently did not receive support from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
• 📌 In an act of open rebellion, the 'blanco' club decided not to attend the official press conference prior to the match, where Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modrić were scheduled to appear. They also did not attend the official training session at La Cartuja or the institutional dinner between boards organized by the RFEF.
• 📌 In turn, Real Madrid issued a statement in which it expressed its critical position towards the refereeing and denounced the treatment they consider unfair.
• 📌 Real Madrid issues another statement to inform that it will play the final of the Copa del Rey against FC Barcelona

Javier Tebas' forceful response on social media

Faced with this scenario, Javier Tebas decided to speak out through his social networks with a direct and blunt message. He began with a lapidary phrase: "This is not football, it's control of power".

Next, he published a series of statements with which he made clear his position regarding the attitude of the 'merengue' team:

"He doesn't like Tebas because he doesn't do what he wants.
He doesn't like Ceferin because he doesn't do what he wants.
He doesn't like Louzan because he doesn't do what he wants.
He doesn't like TV commentators because they don't say what he wants.

And now, after the statements of the referees - tired of the constant harassment from Real Madrid TV - he responds as he knows how:

🚫 Suspends the press conference.
🚫 Skips training at La Cartuja.
🚫 Disregards the official acts of the Cup final.
🚫 Leaks that he will not appear in the Cup final"

 

Javier Tebas closed his message with a harsh accusation, raising the tone of the debate:

"What thin skin.
He doesn't protest, he pressures.
He doesn't complain, he threatens.
He doesn't disagree, he punishes.
He doesn't want to improve football, he wants his football.
And the most serious thing is not that he tries.
The serious thing is that many allow it, consent to it and help him".

Medina Cantalejo calls for calm

The president of the Technical Committee of Referees, Luis Medina Cantalejo, has also intervened in the matter, who spoke to the media before the official dinner organized by the RFEF in Seville. Although he avoided getting too involved, he sent a message of calm:

"We have been preparing for two months what is the festival of football and as responsible for the refereeing what I have to do is a call for calm. There are thousands of people who have traveled from all over Spain to live this party and we are going to contribute to a good game and that the referees do their job".

Questioned about the possible change of referee, he avoided answering directly and ended his intervention with a brief sentence: "We are here so that the game is played, I think everyone wants the game to be played".