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LaLiga president Javier Tebas has called for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down, saying the world governing body is “destroying the football industry”.
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, ExternalThe Spanish league chief also criticized the World Cup water cut, the long half-time interval in the final, the suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogan and the possibility of a future 64-team summer tournament.
“In my opinion, yes, I think it’s overdue,” Tebas said when asked if Infantino should quit.
However, the 56-year-old said he had the support of national federations and said FIFA’s voting system was “rotten to the core”.
“There is no opposing candidate, no one wants to stand to lose,” Tebas said.
“It doesn’t have to stay, but the current situation means it won’t leave.”
Spain’s top-flight leader was in America to watch his country win the 2026 World Cup.
“In the last few days, I’ve heard a lot of people here in America who are against Infantino and who don’t agree with what he’s doing,” Tebas said.
“They say but they don’t do anything. I don’t know what’s worse, silence or complicity, because those who are silent know very well the damage that football is suffering.”
Infantino is expected to be elected to a fourth term at FIFA’s March congress, although Tebas believes Infantino could have been dropped due to his involvement in the Balogin scandal.
The 25-year-old American player escaped his life after being suspended from the intervention of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, during his team’s last 16 match against Belgium.
Tebas said: “The suspension of the American player was very difficult. Belgium were lucky that they eliminated the United States, because otherwise Infantino could have lost his job.”
“After Belgium won, they managed to bury the matter. But these things are only the tip of the iceberg.”
UEFA criticized FIFA’s decision at the time. “Unprecedented, incomprehensible and irrational.” And the decision was one of the reasons for the president of the organization, Alexander Sefrin Not participating in the World Cup finals.
Infantino opened the door International competition of 64 teams During this year’s event, however, Tebas argued that “everything can’t revolve around the World Cup.”
“Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry is not just the World Cup,” said Tebas.
“National tournaments are what support this sport. They are destroying the football industry that creates tens of thousands of jobs. A 40-day event that involves only a handful of players.
“Do we have the best players there? Obviously, but there are also in our league. We need less international matches and more protection for national football at all levels. They do not realize that they make irresponsible decisions.”
FIFA Compulsory three-minute wet breaks were introduced No World Cup qualification for matches played in stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The governing body said they were committed to player safety, but critics said they were using their time off to cash in on promotions.
Meanwhile, pop music giants Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber They were among the acts at the final half-time show of the World Cup.This extended the usual 15 minute halftime break to 27 minutes and 22 seconds.
“FIFA organizes things as it wants, where it wants, for its own benefit, certainly not for football,” Tebas said. “So if they want a 27-minute half-time break, it gets them.
“Hydration breaks are a lie. We have them in La Liga, but only when it’s really hot.
“Here, the arenas in Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta had air conditioning. I had to wear a jumper in the stands. It was a lie, for a commercial break.
It is proof that we are led by an institution that does and decides what it wants when it wants to, without considering other football. And in many cases it hurts football.
BBC Sport has contacted FIFA for comment.
