La Liga president Javier Tebas has once again criticised FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying he should step down over decisions that he believes are harming football. Tebas accused FIFA of putting commercial interests ahead of the sport by expanding international tournaments and increasing fixture congestion. His latest comments come amid discussions about expanding the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams.Tebas said expanding the World Cup further would damage domestic competitions, which he believes are the backbone of football. “Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry isn’t just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around the World Cup,” he told Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, as quoted by news agency AP.He also called for Infantino to leave office, saying, “In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.” Tebas added that many people privately oppose Infantino but fail to act, claiming: “He shouldn’t stay, but he won’t leave… those who stay silent are perfectly aware of the damage football is suffering.”Tebas also criticised FIFA’s hydration breaks and the extended 27-minute halftime during the World Cup final, saying: “Hydration breaks are a lie… It was a lie — and just a break for advertising.”
Fans’ group joins criticism
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) also condemned FIFA’s handling of the World Cup, calling for major governance reforms. The group accused FIFA of prioritising commercial interests over supporters, pointing to high ticket prices, expensive travel, poor communication and changes to football traditions. FSE argued that the tournament damaged the reputation of both FIFA and the World Cup, concluding that “FIFA is unfit to govern global football” and accusing Infantino of putting financial and political interests ahead of the game’s future.
