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Cape Town - La Liga president Javier Tebas has hit back at suggestions that his constant criticism of Manchester City is racially motivated.
City's chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak - responding to Tebas' scathing claims that the club and Paris St-Germain were 'ruining football' with the income they received from petrol and gas and should be kicked out of the Champions League - suggested Tebas and the Spanish league were 'jealous' of their success.
There have been suggestions Tebas' initial attack had anti-Arab undertones.
That was put to Tebas at a Q and A in Madrid ahead of the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham and his response was unequivocal.
"I am not at all racist, I have no issues about ethnicity," said Tebas. "How can I be racist if two of my grandchildren are Arab? I would be a racist against my own grandchildren!
"That just shows the ignorance and how easy it is to say things without knowing all the details and people's background.
"You are talking about ethnicity, it's not true."
Tebas then continued his attack. City, who strenuously denies any wrongdoing, faces a possible season-long Champions League ban if UEFA finds them guilty of breaking Financial Fair Play regulations.
"I think there is a lot of ignorance about certain things, firstly about how financial control works in European football and ignorance in regards to financial doping," Tebas added.
"It's not the first time I've spoken about it. Jealous? That is not true. Man City are pending a sanction and that is also related to sponsorship."
