- Real Madrid is considering withdrawing from La Liga due to discontent resulting from complaints about refereeing decisions.
- Jude Bellingham was given a red card on Saturday for allegedly using abusive and insulting language.
- Leaving a football league is a complicated process that can happen either through a team's own decision or as a result of being forced out.
Real Madrid is contemplating a potential departure from La Liga due to persistent disagreements with league administrators and questionable officiating decisions.
The situation escalated after their star player, Bellingham, received a red card during a 1-1 draw against Osasuna on February 15, 2025.
Bellingham's red card incident
According to the AP News website, the England forward was given a red card in the 40th minute for allegedly using abusive language towards referee José Luis Munuera Montero.
The referee's report showed that Bellingham yelled an obscenity at the official. This offense could lead to a suspension of between four and 12 matches according to the Royal Spanish Football Federation's Disciplinary Code.
Real Madrid threatens to leave La Liga over disputes
According to reports from the Spanish publication Sport, the top-tier La Liga team is contemplating departing the league due to heightened tensions with La Liga president Javier Tebas and discontent with a recent refereeing decision.
The club became increasingly frustrated after a series of disputed decisions, including Carlos Romero escaping a red card for a foul on Kylian Mbappé and Bellingham facing a possible 12-match ban after being sent off.
Who is Javier Tebas?
Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga since 2013, is a Spanish football administrator who has gained recognition for rigorously enforcing financial regulations.
He is also well known for expanding La Liga worldwide, and expressing robust opinions on football governance, frequently disagreeing with clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as UEFA and FIFA.
What is the reason behind Real Madrid's dissatisfaction with Tebas?
Tebas believes that the other team is exploiting his reputation and the investments that his team's participation in the competition brings.
They have a strong feeling that the football administrator has united all the clubs against them after he openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the poor officiating in a letter of protest they submitted.
* The team's withdrawal can also have financial implications for the league, as they may lose revenue from the team's membership fees and
Leaving a football league is a highly intricate process which can happen either by choice or due to expulsion.
A club wishing to withdraw must submit a formal notice to the league, meet all outstanding contractual commitments, and obtain the necessary clearance from the governing authorities.
This frequently involves negotiating release fees and handling broadcasting and sponsorship contracts.
On the other hand, a league may expel a team for financial mismanagement, rule breaches, or unauthorized participation in competitions.
Failure to comply may lead to penalties, revenue losses, and exclusion from both local and global competitions.
Potential Leagues Real could join after leaving La Liga
If their exit is approved, the club may consider relocation to the German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, or French League 1 as their initial destination.
Their inclusion would raise the competitive bar and, more importantly, enhance the league's reputation, creating opportunities for increased revenue and broader financial expansion.
Bellingham's potential 12-game suspension following red card
It had been previously reported why Real's Bellingham could face a 12-game ban after a heated exchange with referee Munura during their match against Osasuna.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 39th minute when Bellingham was given a red card, leaving Real with only 10 players on the field. Bellingham allegedly used insulting language towards referee Munuera.