 | CONNELL GRANGE SUPPLY WHERE THE CUSTOMER IS STILL THE COMPANY |
|
Printable Page
10/16 09:26 CDT Madrid demands La Liga president resigns after comparing
attacks on referees with Nazi propaganda
Madrid demands La Liga president resigns after comparing attacks on referees
with Nazi propaganda
By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) --- Real Madrid has again demanded the resignation of the
president of La Liga after he compared the club's efforts to discredit referees
with the propaganda techniques of the German Nazi regime.
Javier Tebas lashed out at Madrid on Friday on social media with a long post
that criticized how its club television channel says referees hurt its chances
of winning.
The channel regularly runs reels of what it considers gross errors by match
officials who are set to work upcoming games for the 15-time European champion.
Tebas compared the tactic with those of Joseph Goebbels, the minister of
propaganda in World War II Nazi Germany.
"The executive of Real Madrid has an orchestra of mouthpieces and Real Madrid
leads the way," Tebas wrote. "Its script is always the same: select plays that
favor it, repeat the alleged affront, increase suspicion and name enemies. It
reminds one of the propaganda techniques that Goebbels used."
Tebas added "the comparison is with the techniques, not with the ideology or,
of course, with Madrid fans."
Madrid responded by saying in a statement that Tebas, who has clashed several
times over the years with club president Florentino Prez, was unfit to hold
his job representing Spain's top clubs.
Madrid also demanded his "immediate resignation."
"Javier Tebas's repeated conduct demonstrates a lack of neutrality, respect,
and impartiality incompatible with his institutional responsibilities," it
said. "His constant attacks on Real Madrid and those demanding transparency and
regeneration represent, in our club's view, a genuine scourge for Spanish
football."
Coach Jose Mourinho has also voiced complaints that Madrid, which holds a
record 36 Spanish league titles, is regularly hurt by referees.
In September, Madrid demanded Tebas step down after he criticized the club for
attacking the refereeing crew in the 2-1 loss at Atletico Madrid.
In Friday's statement, Madrid repeated its complaint that Tebas hasn't done
enough over the on-going judicial probe into Barcelona's alleged payments to an
official on the refereeing committee of the Spanish soccer federation for
several years.
___
See AP's full soccer coverage here
