La Liga president Javier Tebas has called for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down, saying the world governing body is destroying professional football. Tebas made the comments in an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, reported by BBC Sport, after traveling to the United States to watch Spain win the 2026 World Cup.
When asked directly whether Infantino should quit, Tebas said: "In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up."
Tebas argued that while opposition to Infantino exists, it rarely translates into action. "These past few days here in America, I've heard many people who are against Infantino, who disagree with what he's doing," he 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 raised concerns about FIFA's election structure. "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 acknowledged that Infantino retains the support of national federations and said the election system is "rotten at its core."
One of the sharpest criticisms from Tebas centered on the suspended ban issued to United States striker Folarin Balogun. The 25-year-old escaped a suspension for his country's last-16 match against Belgium following an 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 had criticized FIFA's decision on the Balogun case at the time, calling it "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable." UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin did not attend the World Cup final, and the Balogun decision was cited as a factor in that absence.
Tebas also pushed back on Infantino's suggestion during the tournament that FIFA could expand to a 64-team global competition. "Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry isn't just the World Cup," he 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."
He added: "We need fewer international matches and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don't realise they are making irresponsible decisions."
Infantino is expected to be re-elected to a fourth term at FIFA's March congress. No opposition candidate has announced a run.
