La Liga President Javier Tebas Demands FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s Resignation, Accuses Him of ‘Destroying’ Football

La Liga President Javier Tebas has launched a scathing attack on FIFA President Gianni Infantino, demanding his resignation and accusing him of "destroying the football industry" by prioritizing the expansion of international tournaments over domestic leagues. Tebas's fiery comments, made in an interview with the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, underscore a deep-seated frustration within Europe's top leagues regarding FIFA's direction. Vinicius Junior Looks Unrecognisable After Chin Harmonisation Surgery Ahead of Real Madrid Pre-Season.

"Gianni Infantino should resign as head of FIFA for 'destroying the football industry' by expanding international competitions," Tebas stated, explicitly highlighting the proposed 64-team expansion for the 2030 men's World Cup. This follows the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup, which concluded on Sunday, July 19, 2026, with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final, and was the first edition to feature 48 teams and 104 matches.

Concerns Over World Cup Expansion and Fixture Congestion

Tebas's primary grievance revolves around FIFA's perceived disregard for the foundational role of domestic competitions. He argued that increasing the number of national teams participating in the World Cup from the current 48 to a potential 64 for 2030 is illogical and detrimental.

“The football industry isn’t just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around the World Cup,” Tebas told La Gazzetta dello Sport. He further elaborated, "They are destroying the entire football industry that creates thousands of jobs for a competition that lasts only 40 days and involves only a few players."

The 2030 World Cup, already slated to be a sprawling centenary event co-hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with additional opening matches in Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina, is at the center of this debate. Tebas also criticized elements of the recently concluded 2026 World Cup, including the implementation of hydration breaks—which he claimed were often used for advertising—and extended halftime intervals beyond the standard 15 minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo Sparks Controversy! Allegedly Likes Post Accusing FIFA Aided Lionel Messi's Argentina in World Cup 2026.

A 'Rotten' System and Infantino's Re-election Bid

When asked directly if Infantino's time was up, Tebas unequivocally responded, "In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up." However, he expressed pessimism about Infantino's actual departure due to what he described as a "rotten at its core" system within FIFA.

"He has the support of the system and the federations, so there's not much more to add, is there? There's no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose. This is the system and it's rotten at its core," Tebas lamented, implying a lack of genuine challenge to Infantino's leadership. Infantino, who has been FIFA President for nearly a decade, announced in April that he would seek re-election for a fourth term, with the vote for the 2027-2031 cycle scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Morocco.

Despite Tebas's strong criticisms, FIFA has not yet publicly commented on the allegations. Meanwhile, Infantino has previously lauded the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle as an "incredible success story," noting record revenues for the 2023-2026 cycle exceeding $15 billion and a significant increase in prize money and club compensation. The clash between the interests of domestic leagues and FIFA's global expansion plans continues to be a defining battleground in the future of football governance. Former Adult Star Mia Khalifa Wins USD 1.65 Million Bet As Spain Defeat Lionel Messi’s Argentina To Lift FIFA World Cup 2026 Trophy.

Key Criticisms from Javier Tebas

• 2030 World Cup Expansion: Strongly opposes the proposed expansion to a 64-team tournament format.

• Severe Fixture Congestion: Warns that the current 48-team World Cup format is already overloading player schedules and domestic calendars.

• Match In-Game Changes: Criticizes new operational changes for the 2026 World Cup, such as extended half-times and mandatory hydration breaks.

• Neglecting Domestic Football: Accuses FIFA of favoring international competitions at the direct expense and health of national leagues.

• Industry Harm: Claims FIFA’s decision-making is actively 'destroying the football industry.'

• Leadership System: Describes the current FIFA leadership and governance system as fundamentally 'rotten.'

The ongoing tension highlights a fundamental divergence in vision for the sport, with domestic leagues advocating for the protection of their calendars and financial viability, while FIFA pushes for greater global inclusion and commercial growth through its flagship tournaments. This conflict is expected to intensify as discussions around the future of international football continue.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2026 10:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).