La Liga president Javier Tebas has called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down, saying the world football governing body’s leadership is damaging the sport.
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas criticised several FIFA decisions during the 2026 World Cup. They included mandatory hydration breaks, the extended half-time show in the final, the postponement of a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun and the possibility of expanding future World Cups to 64 teams.
When asked if Infantino should resign, Tebas said: “In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.”
He said Infantino continues to enjoy the backing of national football federations and argued that FIFA’s election system prevents meaningful opposition.
“There’s no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose,” Tebas said.
“He shouldn’t stay, but the current state of affairs means he won’t leave.”
Tebas, who was in the United States during the World Cup, said he encountered widespread criticism of Infantino’s leadership.
“These past few days here in America, I’ve heard many people who are against Infantino, who disagree with what he’s doing,” Tebas said.
“They say it, but then they do nothing. I don’t know what’s worse, the silence or the complicity, because those who stay silent are perfectly aware of the damage football is suffering.”
He also criticised FIFA’s handling of Balogun’s suspension. The United States striker avoided a ban for his country’s last-16 match against Belgium after intervention from US President Donald Trump.
“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,”Tebas said.
“Since Belgium won, they managed to bury the matter. But these things are just the tip of the iceberg.”
UEFA also criticised FIFA’s decision at the time, describing it as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” The dispute contributed to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin’s decision not to attend the World Cup final.
Tebas also rejected suggestions of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams.
“Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry isn’t just the World Cup,”Tebas said.
“It’s the national competitions that sustain this sport. They are destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves a minority of players.
“Are the best players there? Clearly, but they are also in our leagues. We need fewer international matches and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don’t realise they are making irresponsible decisions.”
FIFA introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks for all World Cup matches in the United States, Mexico and Canada, saying the measure was designed to protect player welfare. Critics argued the stoppages mainly created extra opportunities for commercial advertising.
The World Cup final also featured performances by Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber, extending the half-time interval from the usual 15 minutes to 27 minutes and 22 seconds.
Tebas said the decisions reflected FIFA’s priorities.
“Fifa arranges things as it pleases, for what it wants, for its own interests, certainly not for football,” said Tebas. “So, if they need a 27-minute half-time break, they’ll have it.
“Hydration breaks are a lie. We have them in La Liga, but only when it’s genuinely hot.
“Here, the pitches in Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta had air conditioning; I had to put on a jumper in the stands. It was a lie, a break for advertising.
“It’s proof that we are governed by an institution that does and decides what it wants, when it wants, following only its own interests without considering the rest of football. And in many cases, it acts to the detriment of football.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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