Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, has called for Fifa president Gianni Infantino to resign, asserting that the global governing body is “destroying the football industry.” Speaking in an interview, Tebas criticised several aspects of Fifa‘s recent decisions and operations.
Among the issues raised by Tebas were the mandatory hydration breaks implemented during the World Cup, the extended half-time interval in the final, and the handling of a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun. He also expressed concerns about the potential for a 64-team summer tournament in the future.
Concerns over Fifa’s leadership and decisions
When asked directly if Infantino should leave his position, Tebas stated, “In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.” However, he acknowledged that Infantino maintains the support of national federations, describing Fifa‘s election system as “rotten at its core.” Tebas noted the absence of an opposition candidate, suggesting that no one is willing to stand for election merely to lose.
Tebas, who was in the US to witness his country win the 2026 World Cup, reported hearing many individuals express disagreement with Infantino‘s actions. He questioned whether the silence or complicity of those aware of the damage to football was worse, as they “do nothing” despite their concerns.
Infantino is anticipated to be re-elected for a fourth term at Fifa‘s March congress. However, Tebas believes that Infantino‘s position could have been jeopardised by his involvement in the case concerning Balogun. The US player, aged 25, avoided a suspension for his team’s last-16 match against Belgium following an intervention.
Tebas commented on the situation, stating, “The suspension of the American player’s ban was absolutely serious. They were lucky that Belgium eliminated the USA, because otherwise a case could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his job.” He added that since Belgium won, the matter was “buried,” but considered these incidents to be “just the tip of the iceberg.”
Uefa, European football’s governing body, had previously criticised Fifa‘s decision regarding Balogun, labelling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” This decision was cited as a reason for Uefa‘s president, Aleksander Ceferin, not attending the World Cup final.
Impact on the football industry
Infantino has also indicated the possibility of a 64-team global tournament. Tebas countered this idea, arguing that “not everything can revolve around the World Cup.” He stressed that increasing the number of national teams “makes no sense” and that the football industry extends beyond the World Cup itself.
Tebas highlighted the importance of national competitions, stating they are what “sustain this sport.” He accused Fifa of “destroying the football industry,” which he noted generates numerous jobs, for an event lasting 40 days and involving a minority of players. He advocated for fewer international matches and greater protection for national football at all levels, suggesting that Fifa is making “irresponsible decisions.”
The mandatory three-minute hydration breaks introduced by Fifa for all World Cup matches in stadiums across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, regardless of conditions, also drew criticism. While Fifa stated these were for player welfare, critics suggest they were used by broadcasters for commercials.
The World Cup final’s half-time show, which extended the usual 15-minute break, was another point of contention. Tebas asserted that “Fifa arranges things as it pleases, for what it wants, for its own interests, certainly not for football.” He called the hydration breaks a “lie,” noting that while La Liga has them, they are only implemented when it is genuinely hot. He pointed out that pitches in cities like Dallas, Los Angeles, and Atlanta had air conditioning, making the breaks appear to be for advertising purposes.
Tebas concluded that these actions demonstrate that football is governed by an institution that acts solely on its own interests, often to the detriment of the sport. He believes that the current state of affairs means Infantino “won’t leave” despite his view that he “shouldn’t stay.”
Tebas also discussed the success of Spanish football, attributing it to a community effort involving clubs, federal coaches, and the sustainability of their system. He highlighted the strength of La Liga as a competition that has provided many players for the national team, which recently won the World Cup.
He emphasised the role of youth development and strict salary caps in La Liga since 2013, which encourage clubs to invest in their academies. Tebas noted that Spain has achieved success across various age groups, including winning the Under-19 European Championship, and has been world champions with both its men’s and women’s teams simultaneously.
The La Liga president reiterated that the Super League ruling granted Fifa and Uefa significant power, confirming their monopoly. However, he argued that this power should have been used to collaborate with stakeholders for the good of football, with transparency and consensual decisions, rather than for Fifa‘s current actions.
Tebas expressed that the system has both active and passive accomplices who either collaborate with or remain silent about these decisions, despite privately criticising them. He believes that those who stay silent are fully aware of the harm being inflicted upon football.
Source: bbc.co.uk