Spain's National Sports Council (CSD) has asked the country's sports tribunal to investigate La Liga President Javier Tebas for comparing Real Madrid's communication methods to Nazi propaganda. The CSD referred the matter to the Administrative Court for Sport (TAD) on Thursday after Tebas made the controversial comparison on social media platform X on October 16.

The TAD will now determine if Tebas's comments constitute a serious offense under Spain's 1990 Sports Law. This law addresses "notorious and public acts that harm sporting dignity or decorum." The CSD emphasized the importance of preserving sport as a space for respect, coexistence, and fair play.

Real Madrid had previously called for Tebas's resignation after he criticized the club's efforts to discredit referees in Spain. Tebas had alleged that Real Madrid's in-house television channel frequently suggested referees were biased against the club. He then stated that these tactics "recall propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels."

Tebas later sought to clarify his remarks, stating he was drawing parallels with "those propaganda techniques" rather than the ideology of the Nazis. He reiterated this distinction on X on Thursday, questioning why Real Madrid's accusations of refereeing corruption do not harm "sporting dignity and decorum."

"Does it not harm clubs, referees, and millions of fans?" Tebas wrote. "Or do those values only deserve a public defence when someone responds to such attacks?"

Real Madrid has a history of criticizing referees on their television channel, with accusations of the officiating being "rigged" and "totally discredited" made last year. La Liga did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tebas has been president of the Spanish football league since 2013. The comparison to Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's chief propagandist, has drawn significant attention and led to the current review by the sports tribunal.

The outcome of the TAD's assessment could have implications for Tebas's position and the broader discourse surrounding club communications and refereeing in Spanish football.