La Liga president Javier Tebas hit out on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) at what he deemed accusations of a refereeing “conspiracy” by Real Madrid following their derby loss to Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho brought two printed screenshots of what he thought were red-card tackles committed by Atletico players to his post-match press conference following Sunday’s (September 20) 2-1 defeat.

Tebas responded to a pro-Real article on social media with a lengthy riposte to allegations of a “conspiracy” against the 15-time European champions.

“Here they go again, the mouthpieces and the regime’s television, building the same old narrative — the permanent conspiracy,” said Tebas, who has often been at odds with Real Madrid and the club’s outspoken president Florentino Perez.

“This article goes further — it claims that referees harm ‘The business that feeds them’.

“What exactly is it asking for? Refereeing based on revenue, viewership, or the badge? What a way to understand equality in the competition.

“Real Madrid are crucial to La Liga. But claiming that ‘La Liga is worth nothing’ without them reveals the disdain for the other clubs, their fans, and their history. The competition belongs to no one.”

Madrid have made a stuttering start to the season and already sit six points behind champions and early leaders Barcelona in the La Liga table.

“Claiming that referees are directed against Real Madrid is living in another galaxy,” added Tebas.

“That narrative serves as an excuse to cover up other shortcomings that are plain to see in these first matches of the season.

“It’s more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what’s happening on the pitch.”

Madrid responded to Tebas’s comments later Tuesday (September 22), calling them “intolerable”.

“Our club considers it intolerable that the president of La Liga uses his institutional position to continue discrediting and attacking Real Madrid in the manner he does in each of his public interventions,” the club said in a statement.

“Given this inappropriate behavior, which has persisted over time, we believe that professional football in Spain urgently needs a leader capable of managing it and developing its full potential with the fundamental duty of neutrality.”

Mourinho returned for a second spell in charge at the Santiago Bernabéu in the close-season, tasked with ending a two-year spell without a major trophy.

On Tuesday (September 22), the technical committee of referees acknowledged “a clear and obvious error” regarding one of the fouls cited by Mourinho, adding that VAR should have intervened.

Rodri made his Barcelona debut in the team’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish League on Thursday, while Chelsea and Fulham advanced to the third round of the English League Cup.

Barcelona’s match was supposed to feature a tribute to Spain’s World Cup champions but instead it became an act of support for the “estelada” flag, Catalonia’s pro-independence symbol.

Rodri’s first minutes with Barcelona

Rodri, signed from Manchester City after captaining Spain to the World Cup title, came off the bench in the 62nd minute to a warm welcome from the Camp Nou crowd.

“I’m happy to play my first game with Barcelona, happy for the victory, the second in a row for the team,” Rodri said. “It’s important to start gaining rhythm. I felt good with my first minutes.”

Rodri is one of eight World Cup winners in Barcelona’s squad, but the planned tribute for them ahead of the match didn’t take place after one of the club’s fans had an estelada flag taken away from him by police before the team’s game at Elche last weekend. He confronted the officers and ended up being hit and detained.

Instead of the tribute, an act supporting the estelada organized by a local group took place with Camp Nou laden with some 10,000 small flags that were handed to fans.

Raphinha and Fermín López scored a goal in each half to give Barcelona its second straight win to start the defense of its Spanish league title.

Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón — Spain’s starter at the World Cup — made a series of outstanding saves to keep Barcelona from scoring more goals.

In the other La Liga game, Osasuna came from behind to win 2-1 at 10-man Celta Vigo.

No Enzo for Chelsea in League Cup win

Danny Welbeck’s goal and an own-goal by Hakeem Odoffin gave Chelsea a 2-0 win over third-division Luton in the second round of the English League Cup.

Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso fielded a strong lineup following a 3-2 win at Fulham in the Premier League on Monday, but Enzo Fernandez — reportedly of interest to Man City — was not in the squad.

Luton is coached by 34-year-old Jack Wilshere, the former Arsenal and England midfielder.

In the other League Cup game, Fulham defeated third-tier Wimbledon 3-0 with goals by Emile Smith Rowe, Rodrigo Muniz and Gonzalo García. It was coach Álvaro Arbeloa’s first win in charge of the London club.

Europa League: Salah’s Trabzonspor out

Mohamed Salah’s Trabzonspor was eliminated from the Europa League by Ferencvaros 5-0 on aggregate following a 4-0 away loss in the second leg.

Trabzonspor finished the game with nine men after having Ruslan Malinovskyi sent off in the 13th minute and Sidny Lopes Cabral in the 57th.

Salah, who scored his first goals with his new club over the weekend, was substituted in the second half.

Portugal’s Benfica beat Danish side AGF 3-1 on the road to advance 6-2 on aggregate. Gianluca Prestianni, who was disciplined for verbally abusing Vinícius Júnior in the Champions League last season, scored twice for Benfica.

In the Conference League playoffs, Rangers fell to Czech Republic side Jablonec in a penalty shootout.

Alexander Sorloth struck twice as Atletico Madrid built confidence for their Champions League semi-final clash against Arsenal with a 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday (April 25, 2026) in La Liga.

However Diego Simeone’s side were also left sweating on the fitness of midfielder Pablo Barrios, who walked off injured midway through the second half.