La Liga Daily Report - 2026-09-23: Real Madrid demand Tebas’s removal after refereeing dispute

Real Madrid called for Javier Tebas to be replaced as La Liga president on Tuesday after the league chief dismissed the club’s refereeing complaints as belonging to “another galaxy”. The demand followed Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano on Sunday, when the club objected to decisions involving Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in. Real’s official statement described Tebas’s conduct as “intolerable” and argued that Spanish football needed a leader capable of managing the competition with neutrality. The dispute added another serious institutional dispute to the aftermath of a derby in which Dean Huijsen was sent off and Atlético converted a penalty.

Tebas responded on Wednesday by insisting that the relationship with Real Madrid would remain “irreconcilable” while Florentino Pérez remained the club’s president, according to Goal. The league chief had accused Madrid of promoting a conspiracy narrative around refereeing and using it to obscure shortcomings on the pitch. Real’s demand is unlikely to end the argument, which has repeatedly involved public statements, social-media exchanges and criticism of the Spanish officiating system. It also places pressure on La Liga’s governance at a time when Madrid sit fourth, six points behind leaders Barcelona after seven matches.

Real Madrid say La Liga needs new leadership after Tebas row

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/real-madrid-la-liga-needs-090500123.html

Valencia confirmed the appointment of Javier Aguirre as their new head coach on Wednesday, returning the veteran manager to La Liga after his latest spell with Mexico. The 67-year-old agreed a deal until the end of the season, with an option for Valencia to extend it by another campaign. Aguirre replaced Carlos Corberán, who was dismissed after Valencia lost four of their first five matches during a winless opening to the season. The club sat next-to-last in La Liga with four points from seven games, while reserve-team coach Óscar Sánchez had overseen the side since Corberán’s departure.

The appointment represented Valencia’s attempt to stabilise a difficult start and complete an early reconstruction of the football operation. Aguirre has previously managed Osasuna, Atlético Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Espanyol, Leganés and Mallorca in Spain, giving him extensive experience of relegation pressure and the league’s demands. He returned to club football only months after Mexico’s World Cup campaign ended with a last-16 defeat by England. His immediate task is to improve results quickly, with the short-term contract giving the club an opportunity to assess whether his experience can alter the direction of the season.

Aguirre hired by struggling Valencia after latest coaching stint with Mexico at World Cup

https://www.news-gazette.com/aguirre-hired-by-struggling-valencia-after-latest-coaching-stint-with-mexico-at-world-cup/article_c0cbf56e-41cb-538c-9422-fd3fe82f93d3.html

Real Madrid ranked 20th out of 20 La Liga clubs for distance covered during the opening seven matches of the season, according to figures discussed by Sports Illustrated on Wednesday. Madrid covered around 10 kilometres less per match than the league average and 21 kilometres less than Barcelona, placing renewed attention on their physical output after defeats by Atlético Madrid and Real Betis. The figures measure every in-play movement, from sprinting to jogging and walking, rather than simply counting high-intensity running. That distinction means the table describes overall movement, not automatically a lack of effort or fitness.

The debate grew after Marc Cucurella questioned the statistic during an interview with Spanish radio programme El Larguero, saying Madrid “actually run a lot”. Analysts cited in the coverage argued that raw distance can conceal the importance of speed, positioning and decisive actions. Even so, the numbers have become another talking point around José Mourinho’s side following an uneven beginning to the campaign. Madrid’s challenge will be to show that their approach remains effective when results and performances are judged over the next run of league fixtures, rather than through workload figures alone.

'The Team That Runs the Least' -- Does it Matter That Real Madrid Don't Run?

https://www.si.com/soccer/does-it-matter-real-madrid-dont-run

Lamine Yamal said the 2026 Ballon d’Or should recognise the player who gives fans the greatest pleasure, rather than simply the footballer with the most goals. The Barcelona forward made the argument in an interview with France Football, according to Yahoo Sports, as he pursued a first win after finishing runner-up for last year’s award. Yamal, who is 19, won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, achievements that have placed him among the leading contenders for the prize. The award is due to be announced at a ceremony in London on October 26.

Yamal said the Ballon d’Or “has nothing to do with the number of goals scored” and should honour “the one who gives pleasure watching”. His comments framed the current contest as a debate over artistry and influence as well as output, with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé also identified as leading candidates after prolific campaigns. A victory would make Yamal the youngest winner in the award’s history, but his own argument suggests he wants recognition for the broader effect of his football rather than for a single statistical category.

It's about joy, not numbers": Yamal challenges goal obsession as he bids to become youngest-ever Ballon d'Or winner

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/joy-not-numbers-yamal-challenges-103000820.html

La Liga clubs were reportedly monitoring Alejandro Garnacho’s situation at Aston Villa on Wednesday after the winger made only 31 competitive minutes since joining on a season-long loan. The 22-year-old had not started a match and had remained on the bench for Villa’s previous fixtures, according to reports cited by Yahoo Sports. Garnacho’s agreement includes a £43 million permanent transfer option linked to performance conditions, and his limited involvement has cast doubt on whether that clause will be triggered. His lack of regular football has therefore created uncertainty over his next step.

A return to Spain would carry a personal connection for Garnacho, who was born in Madrid and spent part of his development at Atlético Madrid’s academy before moving to Manchester United. The reports did not identify specific interested clubs, but suggested that Spanish sides were tracking the position as his opportunities in England remained restricted. Garnacho’s immediate priority is to establish himself in Unai Emery’s plans, while Chelsea and Villa must assess whether the loan can still develop into a permanent move or whether another solution will be required.

Aston Villa on alert with star seeking La Liga options

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/aston-villa-alert-star-seeking-080000817.html