Tebas confirms LaLiga will report racist chants near the Bernabéu and welcomes Rodri back to Spain

Javier Tebas confirmed on Wednesday that LaLiga will take the racist chants heard outside the Santiago Bernabéu before the Champions League match against Inter to the relevant authorities. The league president, speaking at the launch of the new official Panini sticker album, also used the event to defend the current strength of Spanish football and to celebrate Rodri's return to the domestic competition.

• LaLiga will report the racist chants near the Bernabéu even though the match was in the Champions League rather than the domestic competition.
• Tebas said he is delighted that Rodri is back in Spanish football and called him the most in-form player in the world.
• He argued that LaLiga is the best league on the planet and noted that 25 of the 52 players in the last World Cup final played in Spain.
• He also addressed a possible Messi investment in Spanish clubs and the financial bubble surrounding the Premier League.

LaLiga to report racist chants outside the Bernabéu

The league president did not hesitate when asked about the racist abuse reported near the Real Madrid stadium before the European tie against Inter. Tebas pointed out that it was not a domestic league match, but stressed that LaLiga reports everything that happens in any competition and that the incident will be passed to the relevant bodies.

The decision keeps LaLiga firmly on a zero-tolerance path when it comes to hate speech, regardless of whether events take place under UEFA's umbrella or within the Spanish competition itself. It comes after several videos shared on social media showed a group of people chanting racist abuse close to the Madrid ground.

Rodri's return delights LaLiga president

Tebas made no secret of his enthusiasm about the Spanish midfielder's return to the domestic league. Asked whether he would rather see him at Real Madrid or Barcelona, the executive avoided taking sides and said he does not mind which club he plays for as long as it is in LaLiga. He described Rodri as the most in-form player in the world and called his return excellent news for the competition.

I am happy that Rodri is playing in our league. He is the most in-form player in the world. I don't care whether it is Barça or Madrid.

Tebas defends the talent gathered in LaLiga

The league's top executive used the event to remind everyone that Spain does not always appreciate what it has. He highlighted that 25 of the 52 players involved in the last World Cup final were playing for LaLiga clubs, a trend also visible at the European Championship and the Olympic Games. For Tebas, having the best players in the world is what makes the Spanish tournament the most attractive, beyond the financial power of other leagues.

Messi, the Panini album and the Premier League bubble

During the Panini sticker album launch, Tebas spoke about the product's role in bringing football closer to children and families. He noted that youngsters learn the line-ups thanks to the stickers and joked that many of them know more about football than the president of LaLiga himself.

On the possibility of Leo Messi investing in Spanish clubs, Tebas said the media have mentioned Eldense and Cornellà, although he has no official confirmation that a deal is underway. He recalled that Cristiano Ronaldo owns five percent of Almería and said it would be an honour if the two greatest players of recent years decided to put part of their savings into Spanish football.

Warning over the Premier League's financial bubble

Tebas also addressed the financial sustainability of English football. He insisted it is not him talking about the Premier League bubble, but the British government itself, which has created a regulatory body to curb the competition's excessive spending. The LaLiga president added that major clubs are under investigation for having broken the rules for fifteen consecutive seasons, referring to financial fair play cases.