Javier Tebas has widened his feud with Real Madrid into a direct attack on the club's media operation. The LaLiga president accused Real Madrid TV of repeating grievances, picking out incidents that suit the club and feeding suspicion, with Vinícius Júnior's suspension and fixture complaints sitting in the background.
The Real Madrid TV row
Tebas said, "The management of Real Madrid directs an orchestra of spokespersons, and Real Madrid TV leads the way. The score is always the same: select the incidents that suit their interests, repeat the grievance, fuel suspicion and identify the enemies." He added that the method "recalls propaganda techniques exploited by Goebbels, the propaganda minister of Nazi Germany: systematic repetition, the creation of an enemy and the subordination of facts to a narrative."
That is a serious escalation from a standard institutional spat. Tebas was not just criticising a broadcast outlet, he was accusing the club's public messaging of working in concert with the board.
One of the details in the dispute is that Real Madrid TV now has referees named 24 hours before matches rather than several days in advance. Tebas also pointed to two articles published by El Debate criticising LaLiga's handling of Vinícius and the scheduling of the Valencia trip three days after the Champions League match against AEK Athens.
Vinicius and the wider backdrop
The feud lands in a season where Vinícius has not looked like his sharpest version. He has made 8 La Liga appearances in 2026, scored 1 league goal and has 3 combined goals and assists in the competition this season.
Marcel Desailly said, "I think Real Madrid should have let Vinicius leave. They need to look for other players. Once again, we are talking about the partnership between Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius. This partnership has not proven successful." Vinícius himself told Relevo, "I'm working to come back as soon as possible, I know I'm not at my best. I have had worse moments; many doubt me. I am sure that the goals and the good run will return."
The suspension is already part of the conversation too. Vinícius was sent off after pulling Nathan Saliba's hair and suspended for four matches, and the scheduling complaint has surfaced with different wording across outlets, either as three days after AEK Athens or 72 hours after that match.
Real Madrid are 4th in La Liga after 8 matches and have started the Champions League with 2 wins from 2, so the domestic debate is happening alongside a better European run. Tebas has now made the row about more than referees and fixtures, and that is the bit that will hang over Real Madrid until the next public exchange.
FAQ
Why is Javier Tebas attacking Real Madrid TV again?
Tebas accused Real Madrid's media operation of repeating grievances, selecting incidents and feeding suspicion. He said Real Madrid TV leads the way in what he called a coordinated messaging campaign, and he linked that to a broader victim narrative around the club.
What did Tebas say about the Goebbels comparison?
Tebas said the method recalls propaganda techniques exploited by Goebbels, describing systematic repetition, the creation of an enemy and the subordination of facts to a narrative. The brief makes clear he was talking about propaganda techniques, not ideology or supporters.
How does Vinicius Jr's suspension fit into the Real Madrid row?
Vinícius Júnior was sent off after pulling Nathan Saliba's hair and suspended for four matches. That discipline issue, plus complaints over fixture scheduling and his uneven output of one goal and three assists, has become part of the wider backdrop to Tebas's attack.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
