Infantino Should Go — LaLiga Chief Launches Fresh Attack on FIFA President
The celebrations had barely begun after Spain lifted the World Cup trophy when a fresh storm erupted around FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Instead of joining the football world in celebrating the tournament’s conclusion, LaLiga President Javier Tebas called for Infantino’s resignation, accusing him of presiding over a football administration that increasingly serves commercial and political interests rather than the game itself.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s final in New York to claim their second World Cup title. But even as the champions celebrated, Tebas was questioning the decisions and controversies that surrounded the tournament.
Among his complaints were the extended breaks introduced during matches, including hydration breaks in stadiums equipped with air conditioning, as well as the musical performance during the final.
“FIFA organises events according to its own interests rather than the interests of football,” Tebas said, according to Tribal Football.
“If they want a 27-minute break, they simply create one. Hydration breaks are absurd. We have them in LaLiga, but only when the heat is extreme.
The stadiums in Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta were air-conditioned. I even had to wear a sweater in the stands. It was ridiculous. It was all for a commercial interruption.”
But Tebas’s strongest criticism centred on the controversy involving United States striker Folarin Balogun.
He suggested that the incident could have created an even bigger crisis for FIFA had the United States progressed further in the competition.
“They were fortunate that Belgium eliminated the USA. Otherwise, there could have been a scandal that might have cost Infantino his position,” Tebas said.
“With Belgium’s victory, they managed to suppress the issue. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Infantino should resign. His time has come.”
Tebas, however, acknowledged that Infantino remains firmly protected by the structure of world football, where national federations continue to support him and no serious challenger appears willing to contest the FIFA presidency.
“He has the backing of the establishment and the national federations. There is no opposing candidate. Nobody wants to run for a position they are likely to lose. The system is fundamentally flawed,” he said.
Infantino and FIFA faced mounting scrutiny throughout the tournament over changes to the traditional organisation of the competition.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin reportedly stayed away from the final in New York amid the tensions surrounding FIFA’s handling of the event.
The Balogun controversy also drew political attention after United States President Donald Trump revealed that he had asked Infantino to review the decision involving the striker following his red card. The subsequent review led to the suspension of the ban.
For Tebas, however, the controversy is part of a much larger problem. And with the World Cup now over, the football world may be left with a question that is unlikely to disappear quietly: Is Gianni Infantino still the man to lead FIFA?
