La Liga president won’t attend next month’s el clasico as tensions with Barcelona crank up

Barca host Real Madrid on December 3, but Javier Tebas will not be present following a row over comments made following the win over Valencia

La Liga president Javier Tebas will not be attending next month’s el clasico at the Nou Camp owing to escalating tensions between Barcelona and the Spanish authorities.

Tebas revealed to Spanish radio station RAC1 that he does not intend to be at the December 3 clash between the bitter rivals following the latest clash between the Catalan side and the sport’s governing body.

Barcelona have objected to comments made by Tebas following their 3-2 win over Valencia last weekend. At the end of the match Neymar was struck by a bottle that came from the crowd, but Tebas accused the Brazilian of provoking the fans and over-reacting.

The club then asked Spain’s Court for Sport (TAD) to open disciplinary proceedings against La Liga’s chief.

“Tebas should focus on protecting the players” said Barcelona’s vice-president Jordi Mestre. “He is an executive and should fulfil his role.

“Tebas should ensure there is no violence in the stadium instead of attacking those who put on a show that allows him to sell La Liga to China.”

Following Saturday’s clash at the Mestella, Barca didn’t send any players to Monday’s La Liga awards ceremony in Valencia and the quarrel shows no signs of abaiting.

Tebas has previously threatened the club with expulsion from the league should Catalonia become an independent country and made a series of accusations of mixing political agendas with the club during Joan Laporta’s spell as president from 2003 to 2010.