La Liga president Javier Tebas has clapped back at Real Madrid over the Spanish side continues public behavior over the refusal to postpone their season opener against Osasuna.
Real Madrid in the past few days have called out La Liga over their decision not to postpone their season opener against Osasuna. The Spanish side believe their participation in the Club World Cup tournament in the United States of America should give them more time to prepare.
However, in a strong statement via Real Madrid TV, the club claimed the 2025-26 La Liga season is “tainted, altered, and manipulated.” To support its position, the club referenced a legal article by Miguel Garcia Caba, a lawyer with ties to Madrid, the league, and the Spanish football federation (RFEF), criticising the handling of the decision.
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- Real Madrid players celebrate scoring a goal during the LaLiga match between Getafe CF and Real Madrid CF at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on April 23, 2025 in Getafe, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Reacting to this, La Liga president Tebas took to X to post a lengthy response, telling the author of the article RMTV relied on that his piece “is as legally charged as I am as a curling enthusiast,” adding: “There’s only one sentence that deserves analysis: ‘He takes refuge in the rules. Always the rules. But we all know that when it’s convenient, they are interpreted, adapted, bent. Not this time.’ Are you telling us that when you were the supposed ‘great jurist’ of the RFEF, the rules were bent to suit your needs? Is that what you defended in your position? Or are you insinuating that the Competition Judge should prevaricate, interpreting the rules to the liking of the “Supreme Being”? BENDING IT. Although the “supreme being” knows about bending and traffic… if not, ask Montoro, Soraya, and a deceased person whose name I won’t name out of respect.”
He went on to say that claims of “animosity toward Real Madrid” on his part are unfair, insisting it was Madrid who filed criminal complaints against him and tried to have him forced out of his job on four occasions.
Tebas continued: “By the way, it’s also surprising how Real Madrid, despite the collective bargaining agreement setting the vacation period at 21 calendar days (and ending on July 30), gave its players four more days, starting preseason four days later. Why? Did the Supreme Being already know the rules were going to be BENDED?
“And no, Miguel, this isn’t about interpreting ‘your’ integrity. If it were, you’d be worried that: Club World Cup finalists Chelsea finished later than Real Madrid… but started two days earlier in the Premier League. In France, PSG and other finalist clubs are also starting without anyone considering bending the rules.”
Madrid are unlikely to get the postponement they wanted with Xabi Alonso’s side to begin their pre-season training on Monday, giving them just 15 days to prepare for their first game of the 2025-26 season.
