La Liga boss goes after FIFA president, calls for resignation

La Liga president Javier Tebas has launched a scathing attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, calling on him to step down and accusing the world football governing body of damaging the global game. 

Tebas claimed Infantino’s leadership has prioritized FIFA’s interests over those of domestic football, insisting that “his time is up.”

The Spanish football chief criticized several decisions made during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including mandatory hydration breaks, the extended half-time show during the final, the controversial handling of United States striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension, and proposals to expand future World Cups to 64 teams. 

Tebas argued that FIFA has increasingly acted without considering the wider football ecosystem.

Tebas also questioned FIFA’s electoral process, claiming Infantino continues to enjoy the backing of national federations despite growing criticism. 

According to the La Liga president, the current election system discourages challengers from contesting the presidency, making it difficult for meaningful opposition to emerge. 

He added that many football stakeholders privately oppose Infantino but have failed to publicly challenge his leadership.

The Balogun disciplinary case was another major point of contention. Tebas described FIFA’s decision to reduce the United States forward’s suspension after intervention from US President Donald Trump as a serious mistake. 

He suggested that if the USA had progressed further in the tournament, the controversy could have significantly damaged Infantino’s position. UEFA had also condemned the decision, describing it as unprecedented and unjustifiable.

Tebas further warned against expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, arguing that domestic leagues remain the foundation of world football. 

He said increasing the tournament’s size would place even greater strain on players and national competitions, which generate thousands of jobs and sustain the sport throughout the year. 

In his view, football needs fewer international fixtures and stronger protection for domestic competitions.

The La Liga chief also dismissed FIFA’s mandatory hydration breaks as unnecessary in many World Cup venues, claiming several stadiums featured air-conditioned environments and suggesting the pauses primarily benefited broadcasters through additional advertising opportunities. 

He accused FIFA of making decisions solely to serve its own commercial interests rather than the welfare of football. FIFA has not yet publicly responded to Tebas’ latest comments.