It’s Totally Cool And Normal That Real Madrid And La Liga’s President Are Bickering Online

If José Mourinho bringing a printout of questionable fouls from the Madrid derby to a press conference was an objectively funny maneuver from the Special One, the resulting fallout is bewildering, convoluted, and a little bit pathetic from everyone involved.

It seems that Mourinho’s actions did what he meant them to do: They grabbed the attention of La Liga. Mourinho, however, may not have wanted the attention specifically of league president Javier Tebas. Tebas, who grew up a Real Madrid fan but who has turned out to be a thorn in the club’s side, has never been one to keep his opinions to himself, whether that’s about racism in Spanish soccer or about FIFA president Gianni Infantino. On that note, bright and early on Tuesday morning at 7:00 a.m. Spain time, Tebas decided to drop a response to the idea that there is some form of conspiracy against Real Madrid from La Liga’s refs, in the form of a long-winded, strangely combative rant on his personal Twitter account. It’s really worth translating and reading in full:

Here they go again, the mouthpieces and the regime’s television, building the same old narrative: the permanent conspiracy. When it’s not Negreira, it’s the referee; when it’s not that, it’s that they’re not international. All clubs can be officiated by international referees and by those who aren’t. None has the right to on-demand refereeing.

But this article goes further: It claims that referees harm “the business that feeds them.” What exactly is it asking for? Refereeing based on revenue, viewership, or the badge? What a way to understand equality in the competition.

Real Madrid is crucial to La Liga. But claiming that “La Liga is worth nothing” without it reveals the disdain for the other clubs, their fans, and their history. The competition belongs to no one.

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.

And my stance doesn’t depend on any position: A refereeing error doesn’t prove a conspiracy, nor does repeating it for years turn it into truth. GET THE BLINDERS OFF! It’s September, and they’re already calling the League adulterated. No one with common sense buys that old excuse anymore.