Javier Tebas backs UEFA sanction on Real Madrid and highlights La Liga anti-racism unit

Javier Tebas has backed UEFA’s disciplinary action against Real Madrid following a supporter’s alleged Nazi salute, while also pointing to La Liga’s dedicated investigative unit tasked with addressing racism and discrimination across Spanish football.UEFA fined Real Madrid €15,000 and ordered the partial closure of 500 seats at the Santiago Bernabéu for the club’s next UEFA home match, although the sanction has been suspended for a one-year probationary period.Speaking at an event linked to La Liga’s Under-12 International Tournament, Tebas said partial stand closures represent the appropriate approach when dealing with discriminatory incidents involving supporters.He said: “Partial closure of the stands is the path we must follow in such situations.”The La Liga President also stressed that Spanish football’s response to racism has become more structured in recent years, with the league establishing a specialist unit to investigate alleged incidents and refer cases to authorities.He said: “We have a special group in La Liga that investigates incidents of racism. We analyse everything that happens in the stadiums and we report what we detect.”The unit works with clubs, law enforcement and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to collect evidence and submit formal complaints when discriminatory behaviour is identified, part of a broader effort by the league to strengthen enforcement and improve accountability.Tebas added that disciplinary measures must extend beyond overt racist abuse to include other forms of extremist or discriminatory conduct inside stadiums.He said: “We must sanction all kinds of extremist behaviour, not only racism but also gestures linked to fanaticism or hate.”Real Madrid had already opened disciplinary proceedings internally after identifying the supporter involved in the gesture. The club said the individual was removed from the stadium and that it had begun steps to revoke the person’s membership.The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of racism and discrimination in Spanish football, an issue that has carried significant reputational implications for both clubs and league authorities in recent seasons.La Liga has increasingly sought to position itself as taking a more proactive regulatory stance, including the use of formal complaints to prosecutors and the expansion of monitoring and investigative capabilities around matchday incidents.UEFA’s decision places Real Madrid under a probationary sanction for the next year, meaning the partial stand closure will only be enforced if a further offence occurs during that period.