Ancelotti ignores Tebas' outburst: 'No one here has gone crazy'

Soccereco, Staff Writer

Published: 02:05, 7 Feb 2025

Carlo Ancelotti ignores the outburst from La Liga president Javier Tebas. Tebas accused Real Madrid of having "lost their heads" following a letter the club had written.

Real Madrid has intensified its call for refereeing reforms, seeking a new and improved officiating system in Spanish football following a controversial match against Espanyol.

The club’s dissatisfaction with the current state of officiating has been brewing for some time, but their latest demands have sparked fresh debates and drawn criticism from La Liga president Javier Tebas. Despite Tebas' strong reaction accusing Real Madrid of having "lost their heads" Carlo Ancelotti remains unfazed, maintaining that the club's stance is simply about improving transparency and fairness in the game.

"He can rest assured because no one here has gone crazy," Ancelotti responded during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Madrid derby against Atlético. "We simply asked for an explanation, because no one is happy not just us. The way games are being handled has raised questions, and we believe it is within our rights to seek clarification. This isn’t about creating controversy, it’s about improving the system for everyone."

Real Madrid’s concerns were amplified following their defeat to Espanyol, where several refereeing decisions left the club feeling aggrieved. The club believes there is a growing inconsistency in the way matches are officiated, particularly in the use of VAR, and has formally requested access to specific recordings related to key incidents in the game. "Real Madrid wants to change a system that isn’t working. We only asked for some recordings," Ancelotti explained. "I don’t think we requested anything unusual. We just want to understand how they handled the game. Referees are part of football, and like players and managers, they should be open to evaluation. If mistakes were made, they need to be acknowledged and addressed."

Tebas, however, interpreted Real Madrid’s actions as an attack on the integrity of La Liga and its officials. He publicly criticized the club, suggesting that their statements were damaging to the reputation of Spanish football. Ancelotti, however, dismissed the idea that Real Madrid’s concerns were exaggerated or intended to put undue pressure on referees. "Football is evolving, and officiating needs to evolve with it. If there are better ways to manage the game and ensure fair play, we should be open to discussing them," the Italian coach added. "What people say on social media, I don’t know I’m not on there. But I do know that every club has a responsibility to work towards making football better, and that includes how games are officiated."

While Real Madrid’s request for greater transparency in refereeing has sparked debate, the club is also fully focused on their next challenge Saturday night’s highly anticipated Madrid derby against Atlético. With the La Liga title race heating up, this match could have major implications for the standings.

"We need three points because they are very important in the league," Ancelotti said, shifting the focus to the upcoming clash. "We haven’t played our best football against strong opponents, but tomorrow is another chance to get three points. The derby is always a special match, full of intensity and emotion, and we need to be at our best."

The Madrid derby comes at a crucial time for both clubs. Real Madrid, despite some inconsistency in their performances, remains a title contender and will be eager to assert their dominance over their city rivals. Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid, under Diego Simeone, will look to make a statement by taking points off their fierce adversaries.

Ancelotti will be relying on his key players to step up, with Vinícius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Luka Modrić expected to play central roles in the team’s strategy. Defensively, Real Madrid will need to stay sharp, as Atlético possesses dangerous attacking options, including Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata.

Beyond the derby, Real Madrid’s battle with La Liga officials is unlikely to end anytime soon. The club remains committed to pushing for reforms, believing that officiating improvements are necessary to maintain the integrity of the competition. Whether their complaints lead to concrete changes remains to be seen, but one thing is certain this debate has added yet another layer of drama to an already intense La Liga season.