“Rules are subject to change as needed.” Tebas attacks FIFA. Your credibility is crumbling

Spanish league (La Liga) president Javier Tebas launched a scathing attack on FIFA, describing the decision to overturn American player Folarin Balogun’s red card as “the tip of the iceberg of a governance model that has damaged the credibility of FIFA and football in general for many years”.

Tebas took to social media to express his opinion on the overturning of Balogun’s red card, which was one of the most controversial issues of the 2026 World Cup, as FIFA overturned his round of 32 card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing him to play for his country’s national team, USA, United States of America, Belgium, Belgium and Round 6 qualifiers. After winning 4-1 for the quarter finals.

Tebas said at the beginning of his letter published on “X” website. “The pardoning of the punishment imposed on the American player Balogun is not just a passing incident or an isolated mistake, it is just the tip of the iceberg of a governance model that has been working for many years to undermine the credibility of FIFA and football in general.”

“When the rules can be interpreted or changed as needed, when the most important decisions are made without real dialogue and agreement with the national and local leagues that support professional football 365 days a year, because the vast majority of clubs and professional players do not participate in international competitions;

Tebas strongly criticized FIFA’s decision-making mechanism, saying: “FIFA conferences are big shows of consensus, with no real debate, and decisions are made before voting begins. There are no agreements with the national and local leagues, they constantly make decisions that harm them.”

“The Balogun case not only confirms this perception, but is only the tip of the iceberg,” the La Liga president explained. “Furthermore, if the rules are always applied arbitrarily, trust will disappear. Without trust, there is no institutional trust.”

Tebas criticized the fact that many in the football world ignore the issue, saying: “What’s worse is that many in the football world know this, but many choose to remain silent because silence is more convenient than standing up for independence, transparency and good governance.”

“The world of football deserves institutions that are accountable, respect the rules and govern transparently, not by unilateral, discretionary and arbitrary decisions that erode the trust of fans, clubs, leagues and players.”