Tebas Slams Infantino: Lies Are Destroying Football, Your Departure Is Essential

La Liga President Javier Tebas launched a fierce attack on FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, claiming that the federation's decisions are causing severe harm to global football. This statement came during an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport following Spain's victory in the 2026 World Cup.

Javier Tebas confirmed that the secret to Spanish football's success lies in the teamwork between clubs, the league, and the Spanish federation, noting that investment in academies and talent development, along with sustainability measures and financial regulations in La Liga, has contributed to building a national team capable of winning titles across various age groups. He also praised coach Luis de la Fuente, describing him as the product of many years of work within the Spanish federation.

Javier Tebas has harshly criticized FIFA's management of the 2026 World Cup, stating that extending the final's halftime break to over 27 minutes, along with water break stoppages, was not for sporting reasons but to serve commercial and advertising interests. He also described the decision to suspend the American striker Folarin Balogun's penalty during the tournament as "extremely dangerous," emphasizing that FIFA makes its decisions based on its own interests without consulting other stakeholders in football.

The president of La Liga has rejected the idea of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, arguing that it would harm local competitions which are the backbone of football and provide tens of thousands of jobs. He concluded his attack by calling for Gianni Infantino's departure, stating: "I believe he has exhausted his time, but the current system protects him, and there are many who oppose him in secret, yet they prefer silence, which is no less dangerous than collusion."