Tebas’s Warning: Hoping the Clasico Chaos Never Repeats Itself

Tebas Hopes Clasico Chaos Won’t Be Repeated

La Liga president Javier Tebas voiced strong frustration over the incidents that marked the latest Real Madrid vs Barcelona Clasico at the Santiago Bernabéu, which ended with a players’ skirmish after the final whistle.

Speaking at an event outlining La Liga’s anti-bullying plan in schools, Tebas said, “The images we saw in the last Clasico are not good and do not set a proper example.”

He added, “We must understand players are under extreme on-field pressure, with heart rates we outsiders cannot measure, but I still hope such scenes do not recur.”

“These events are exceptional in Spanish football; in the vast majority of league matches, such clashes do not occur, and that is what we should emphasise.”

The Clasico featured late-night chaos, including a red card to Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin after a clash with Barcelona players, and six yellow cards handed out to substitutes’ benches.

Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Eder Militao were cautioned, while Barcelona’s Fermin López, Alejandro Balde, and Ferran Torres also picked up bookings.

Tebas concluded by reaffirming that La Liga works hard to preserve the league’s image as a clean and respectful competition, insisting that emotions must not morph into actions that tarnish Spanish football.

The closing minutes of the match also saw tension on the pitch and on the benches, culminating in confrontations near the technical area that required intervention from match officials.

After the final whistle, verbal exchanges between Thibaut Courtois and Lamine Yamal intensified the scene, with players from both sides stepping in as the situation escalated into a confrontation involving multiple individuals, including Antonio Rüdiger and Rafinha, who were near the action despite not being in the squad list.

These moments underscored the level of tension and emotion that characterized the Clasico, a fixture defined by rivalry and psychological pressure until the very end.

A Vinícius Crisis

The Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior publicly expressed anger at coach Xabi Alonso after being substituted in the 70th minute, signaling his displeasure with gestures and words, and leaving the pitch for the locker room before returning to the bench minutes later.

Seeing his number on the fourth official’s board, Vinícius appeared shocked and uttered clear protestations before he rejoined the team, visibly tense.

Alonso chose not to engage the moment, instead continuing to focus on the match while teammates attempted to calm Vinícius down.

The forward initially did not sit on the bench, leaving for the locker room; he returned minutes later with a stern look. On his way out, he shouted a curse directed at Alonso, signaling significant frustration.

In additional footage aired by DAZN, Vinícius was heard shouting, “Always me! I’m leaving the team,” as cameras captured the moment. Alonso answered with a calm, measured response: “Come on, Vini, enough!”

Peaceful Resolve from Xabi Alonso

In a composed press conference after securing a 2-1 win in his Clasico coaching debut, Alonso analyzed the factors behind the victory and stressed the mental and future significance of the result.

“I am very happy for the players; they needed to know they could win in a game like this. It was a deserved victory, perhaps even exceeding the flow of the match, and that is important for the future,” he said.

Regarding his own feelings, Alonso insisted the win did not free him from pressure and that there is still much work ahead: “Nothing is freed me; there is still a lot to do, we must stay calm.”

He acknowledged the questions about Vinícius but urged calm, adding, “We’ll certainly discuss it, but I don’t want to lose focus on the key points. There are players with different personalities, and we will clarify things within the group.”

Despite repeated inquiries about Vinícius, Alonso chose not to fan the flames, noting that tension is a natural part of Clasico rivalries and should remain within healthy boundaries.

“This is natural; in every Clasico there is a lot happening and it will continue to happen,” he said. “As long as it stays within healthy competition, there is nothing to worry about.”

Overall, Alonso underscored that the team must maintain composure and continue building on positives, including Vinícius’s performance, while managing different personalities within the squad.