Tebas vs. Perez: The Unfinished Fight Over Truth, Miami, and La Liga’s Future

Tebas Fires Back at Perez

The dispute reignited between Javier Tebas, head of La Liga, and Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid, after the latter directed a sharp set of criticisms at the royal club's assembly.

Tebas quickly responded on X, saying Perez behaves as if he is the sole owner of the truth, and promised a detailed rebuttal in the hours to come.

According to AS, Perez had said that it is not normal for the La Liga president to push for a match outside Spain, and it is also not normal for the league to back extra financial support for Barcelona and Villarreal to play in Miami.

Perez added that it is not natural that La Liga continues to lose millions of euros due to the Legends Museum failure, demanding accountability.

Tebas replies in detail

In Tebas's first response, he noted that Florentino previously warned on a popular talk show that football was financially ill and that his Super League was the only plan to rescue it. Today he attacks all institutions, including La Liga, with a partisan, condescending tone as if he were the true master of truth. That reaction is predictable for someone who seems to outgrow himself year after year.

He added that in the coming hours he would answer point by point: some criticisms are incorrect, some distorted, and others do not reflect the full reality of Spanish and European football.

Moments later, Tebas returned to X and began addressing the points Perez raised in his address to members, focusing specifically on the Miami match file. "Miami match: facts, not tales," he said. "Much has been said about Miami, but little of it aligns with reality."

He continued that the Miami project is part of the collaboration with the joint venture Relivant, unanimously approved by the La Liga commissioners in 2018, within strategic plans discussed and approved by this governing body. Those agreements were public, and Real Madrid never objected.

Later, in 2020, the commissioners’ panel again explained the project with Real Madrid present; the club did not object at that time.

He added: "The general assembly is not authorized to reject two clubs playing an official match outside Spain; one must study the regulations to understand that."

He concluded: "All legal and regulatory steps were followed: the body deciding whether a match outside the country constitutes distortion is not La Liga, nor the Spanish federation, nor UEFA, and certainly not Real Madrid or the Sports Council. FIFA remains the only global authority, and we have submitted the requests and await the decision."

He wrapped up: "In short: the Miami game was a project approved by La Liga’s governing bodies, it followed all legal procedures, and it was explained repeatedly; Real Madrid was aware. What is now presented as distortion was then part of a strategy to internationalize the competition, and Real Madrid did not object at that time and place."

Teasing Tebas’s Football Journey

Javier Tebas is one of the most influential and controversial figures in Spanish football in recent decades, having played a pivotal role in shaping La Liga since first taking the presidency in 2013.

Born in 1962 in Costa Rica, he moved to Spain early, studied law, and specialized in sports and administrative matters, which opened the door to early involvement in football governance.

His link to football began as a legal consultant for numerous Spanish clubs on financial and regulatory matters, granting him considerable influence within the sport’s institutions.

In the 1990s he engaged in several projects tied to club management, before becoming an active member of La Liga and helping draft laws on broadcasting rights and debt settlement for clubs.

His star rose as he navigated thorny issues like mounting debt and La Liga’s appeal compared to the Premier League. In 2013 he was elected president, initiating a bold era focused on turning La Liga into a more global, organized, and profitable product.

The Ongoing Controversy and Criticisms

Tebas achieved several early successes, notably centralizing broadcasting rights, boosting revenue for smaller clubs, expanding La Liga’s presence outside Spain, and opening international offices to promote the league’s brand. He also strengthened financial oversight by enforcing fair-play rules and monitoring club budgets, helping reduce debt and stabilize finances.

But his tenure has also been marked by crises and criticisms: accusations of meddling in clubs’ affairs, aggressive enforcement of fair-play rules, and frequent clashes with Barcelona’s former president Bartomeu, Real Madrid’s Perez, and especially around the European Super League. He also faced fan protests over some La Liga matches played outside Spain, a plan that ultimately did not materialize.

Punchline 1: If football governance were a match, Tebas would want extra time and a whistle for good measure.

Punchline 2: Perez might as well carry a PR whistle to board meetings—the only thing it seems to blow is more headlines.