'Real Madrid have lost their minds!' - Angry La Liga president Javier Tebas blasts Carlo Ancelotti's side for referee complaint after shock defeat to Espanyol

After a shock 1-0 loss to Espanyol in La Liga last weekend, Madrid filed a formal complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to ask for the "immediate submission of VAR audio" over two officiating decisions in the contest. They then did not attend an RFEF meeting with representatives from teams in the top two Spanish leagues on Thursday. Now, Tebas has hit out at Los Blancos for their actions.

He said, via Marca: "They [Madrid] have constructed a story of victimhood, exaggerated and out of place. The objective, in my opinion, is to harm the competition… in the note it was clear that there was no adulterated competition. They have lost their minds."

Tebas suggested Madrid cannot carry on like they are, in terms of questioning the quality of refereeing in La Liga. However, tensions on this matter have been heightened due to the ongoing Negreira case, where Barcelona face charges of corruption over alleged payments made to a former official.

He added: "We are certainly going to file a complaint, just as we have filed a complaint against Real Madrid Television. We will see who is being sued, whether it is the club, the person who signed the letter or the board of directors. We are analysing the matter at a legal level, but, obviously, this type of report cannot be allowed because there are falsehoods in the report itself or half-truths that are trying to influence certain matters that cannot be.”

All eyes will be on Madrid's next game, and the refereeing decisions, in a top of the table clash against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.