“If any team cannot complain about refereeing errors, it is Real Madrid,” says LaLiga chief Javier Tebas

LaLiga president Javier Tebas spoke at Alfonso XII School this morning during a conference focused on Spanish-American relations. He later reviewed current issues facing Spain’s top soccer division.

He emphasized how football helps build international relationships beyond sport, particularly through LaLiga’s growing global footprint.

Relations with the Middle East and the United States

“Football helps establish international relationships with people who may not be part of the sporting world,” Tebas said. “You build many connections when we travel.”

He highlighted frequent trips to Saudi Arabia and strong ties with Qatar.

“I know Saudi Arabia very well. I’ve traveled to Riyadh 10 times this year,” he said. “Qatar is another country we have a lot of relationships with. They are doing many internal activities and sporting events, like the Spanish Super Cup and Formula 1. There is also investment in club ownership. You can see they want to keep evolving.”

Turning to the United States, Tebas called it one of LaLiga’s most important markets.

“The United States is one of the most relevant markets for LaLiga,” he said. “Major telecom companies look to LaLiga to attract Hispanic audiences, who make up more than one-third of the population.”

He also pointed to partnerships aimed at reaching U.S. Hispanic viewers, including collaboration with Disney.

LaLiga’s push to stage matches in the U.S.

Tebas defended the idea of taking official league matches abroad, specifically to the United States.

“It’s hard to understand why some in Europe oppose LaLiga matches in the United States, but celebrate when NFL games are played in Spain,” he said.

He framed the idea as a branding opportunity rather than a disruption to the competition.

“It’s taking one match out of 380 to build the LaLiga brand and the brand of Spain,” he said. “We are already in the U.S., but we want to expand our influence further.”

He dismissed concerns about competitive integrity.

“The integrity of fans is only questioned when LaLiga does it,” Tebas said. “We’re not talking about 20 matches. We’re talking about one. We will keep trying in future seasons, and it will eventually happen.”

Real Madrid report comments

Tebas also reacted to a reported internal Real Madrid document on refereeing.

“I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I want to see what year their complaints go back to, and whether they include mistakes affecting all clubs, including Real Madrid.”

“If any team cannot complain about refereeing errors, it is Real Madrid.”

Barcelona and financial rules

On Barcelona, Tebas praised the club’s role in expanding LaLiga’s global reach.

“Barcelona is currently helping a lot with the growth of the brand,” he said. “They are one of the most active partners in LaLiga.”

He also explained how the league’s financial rules impact transfers.

“If a €100 million ($114 million) transfer is signed over five years, the annual cost is €20 million ($22.8 million),” he said.

World Cup 2026 and U.S. growth

Tebas said the 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, represents a major opportunity.

“The distribution of World Cup venues is a win-win business model, especially for the United States,” he said. “Football still has a long way to go to reach the level of other American sports.”

Premier League finances criticized

Tebas took aim at the Premier League’s financial model, calling it unsustainable.

“It is a competition operating at a loss,” he said. “This year they will lose €1.2 billion (about $1.37 billion). We will lose only €70 million (around $80 million).”

He added that Premier League clubs often resist regulation due to concerns over outside interference, citing cases involving Chelsea, Newcastle, and Manchester City.

Super League warning

Tebas reiterated his opposition to the proposed European Super League.

“European football’s competitiveness must be protected,” he said. “Promotion and relegation is what makes us different from the United States.”

He criticized closed-league models.

“The Super League originally proposed 16 teams with only four invitations. That is a risk to league stability,” he said. “Franchise models, like in the NBA, are also dangerous.”

Future of global football

Tebas said governing bodies like FIFA and UEFA must continue to exist but share influence with other institutions.

“The new World Cup format aims for 70 teams,” he said. “The Champions League has expanded its group stage. That hurts domestic leagues because it reduces available calendar space.”

He added that fixture congestion is driving player complaints about workload.

Piracy and digital enforcement

Tebas ended by addressing piracy, calling it a threat to the industry.

“It is a matter of sovereignty,” he said. “It is about defending what you have built.”

He said LaLiga works closely with major tech companies.

“We meet weekly with Amazon and Google to protect our product from hackers,” he said.

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