MADRID, Spain — LaLiga president Javier Tebas has publicly rebuked Real Madrid following the club’s complaints over refereeing decisions in their 2–1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Madrid derby on September 20, 2026.

Tebas responded on Tuesday to criticism surrounding the officiating during the derby, rejecting the suggestion that referees are deliberately targeting Real Madrid.

The controversy intensified after Real Madrid manager José Mourinho publicly highlighted two incidents involving Atlético players during his post-match press conference. Mourinho questioned why Atlético defender Cristian Romero and winger Lee Kang-in were not sent off for challenges involving Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde respectively.

Real Madrid subsequently published a match report describing the officiating as a decisive factor in the defeat, arguing that the referee, Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias, failed to issue red cards in the two incidents.

Tebas, however, dismissed the broader conspiracy argument.

In a social-media response, the LaLiga chief described the claims as the “permanent conspiracy” narrative and argued that an individual refereeing error does not establish evidence of an organised conspiracy.

He also questioned the idea that referees should treat clubs differently because of their commercial importance, stressing that all teams should compete under the same refereeing standards.

“None has the right to refereeing à la carte,” Tebas argued, according to EFE.

Tebas acknowledged Real Madrid’s importance to the Spanish top flight but rejected the suggestion that LaLiga’s value depends entirely on the club.

He said the competition belongs to all participating clubs, their supporters and their history, rather than to any single team.

The dispute follows a particularly heated derby in which Real Madrid were reduced to 10 men after defender Dean Huijsen was sent off for a challenge on Giuliano Simeone. Atlético eventually secured the victory, while Real Madrid continued to voice concerns about earlier refereeing decisions.

Tebas had already addressed the controversy on Monday, saying he understood Real Madrid’s complaints but disagreed with the manner in which they were expressed. He also argued that the refereeing decisions did not ultimately determine the result.

Regarding the disputed incidents, Tebas said Huijsen’s red card was justified. He considered Romero’s challenge on Bellingham insufficient for a red card, while acknowledging that Lee Kang-in’s challenge on Valverde could reasonably have resulted in a dismissal.

The Valverde incident has added further attention to the controversy. Real Madrid later confirmed that the Uruguay midfielder suffered a serious left-ankle sprain during the match following the challenge by Lee Kang-in.

Tebas nevertheless maintained that allegations of referees being directed against Real Madrid were unfounded, arguing that focusing on conspiracy claims could divert attention from the team’s performances on the pitch.

The latest clash further highlights the long-running tension between Real Madrid and the LaLiga president, with disagreements over refereeing, league governance and the treatment of the competition’s major clubs repeatedly becoming subjects of public debate.

For now, the dispute remains centred on two competing positions: Real Madrid’s public criticism of the derby officiating and Tebas’ rejection of the suggestion that those decisions demonstrate a systematic campaign against the club.