Javier Tebas, president of Spain's La Liga, sharply criticized FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino for destroying the football industry by prioritizing international competitions over domestic leagues and clubs. Tebas said Infantino’s time as FIFA president "is up" and called on him to resign, saying, "In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up." [1, 2, 3]
Tebas condemned FIFA’s plan to expand the men's World Cup to 64 teams by 2030, calling the move irresponsible and harmful to domestic football. He said, "Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. We need fewer national teams and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don't realise; they decide irresponsibly." [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Fixture congestion and rising international matches also drew Tebas's ire. He criticized scheduling overload as damaging domestic leagues, which he described as vital economic engines. "They are destroying the football industry – which generates tens of thousands of jobs – for an event that lasts 40 days and involves only a minority of players," Tebas said. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Tebas questioned FIFA’s disciplinary handling during the 2026 World Cup, especially the decision to postpone the one-match ban for US striker Folarin Balogun after his red card, a decision influenced by then US President Donald Trump. He called the postponement "an extremely serious matter" that could have cost Infantino his job if the US team had progressed further. [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8]
He also criticized FIFA’s introduction of mandatory hydration breaks as mere advertising ploys rather than player welfare measures. Tebas described the 2026 final’s halftime extension beyond 27 minutes, including entertainment performances, as catering to commercial interests. [6, 8]
On FIFA governance, Tebas described the electoral system as fundamentally flawed, declaring, "There’s no opposition candidate; no one wants to run to lose. This is the system, and it's a system that's flawed from the ground up." [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Tensions in world football governance were underscored when UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin did not attend the 2026 World Cup final due to disagreements with FIFA over disciplinary and match operations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 6]
Infantino, age 56, announced in April he plans to seek a fourth term as FIFA president. The presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Morocco. [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7]
Tebas, age 63, remains a vocal critic of FIFA’s direction as the election approaches.
