Javier Tebas, the outspoken president of Spain's La Liga, has launched a scathing attack on FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, calling for his immediate resignation. Tebas asserted that the world governing body is actively 'destroying the football industry' through a series of decisions he deems detrimental to the sport's core.
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas outlined several grievances against Infantino's leadership, including FIFA's implementation of mandatory hydration breaks during the recent World Cup, regardless of actual weather conditions, and the extended 27-minute, 22-second half-time interval during the final, which featured performances from global music stars. He also criticised the controversial postponement of a suspension for US striker Folarin Balogun, a decision that UEFA also publicly condemned at the time as 'unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable'.
When directly asked if Infantino should step down, Tebas unequivocally stated, 'In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.' However, he acknowledged that Infantino retains the support of national federations, attributing this to what he described as a 'rotten at its core' election system that discourages opposition candidates. Tebas claimed that despite hearing widespread private opposition to Infantino's actions during his recent visit to the US for the World Cup, a lack of public challenge allows the current situation to persist.
Tebas further argued against the future possibility of a 64-team summer tournament, a concept Infantino has reportedly explored. He emphasised that 'not everything can revolve around the World Cup' and that national competitions are the true backbone of football, sustaining the sport and generating significant employment. He accused FIFA of making 'irresponsible decisions' that prioritise a 40-day event over the continuous health and development of domestic leagues.
The La Liga chief also suggested that the controversy surrounding Balogun's suspension could have jeopardised Infantino's position had the US not been eliminated by Belgium. He implied that the incident, which saw US President Donald Trump reportedly intervene, was merely 'the tip of the iceberg' regarding FIFA's questionable practices. Tebas's criticisms highlight a growing tension between powerful domestic leagues and FIFA's global ambitions.