FIFA President Infantino criticised for 'pathetic' social media attack on critics

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FT Desk

La Liga President Javier Tebas has called Gianni Infantino "pathetic" after the FIFA President posted a lengthy World Cup message which included an attack on his numerous critics.

Infantino has come under criticism for his relationship with United States President Donald Trump, as FIFA is supposed to remain a politically neutral organisation.

He has courted even more controversy over the last few days as reports emerged that he was consdering selling shares in the World Cup to private investors.

Among his comments on Instagram, he specifically mentioned Iran's conflict with the US and gave FIFA a pat on the back for bringing the two nations together, even though Iran were forced to relocate their home base to Mexico during the tournament. The team were only given 24-hour visas to get in the US for matches and many of their backroom staff did not receive visas to enter North America at all.

"While they celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate," Infantino accused.

"Our world needs love, not hate; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning.

"While you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war."

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A post shared by Gianni Infantino - FIFA President (@gianni_infantino)

Tebas was scathing in his response to the Instagram post, saying:

"Today, Gianni Infantino posted a pathetic message on his Instagram account and on the @FIFAcom accounts. No one disputes that football is about excitement and unity. But transparency, good governance and accountability are never a source of hatred; they are an obligation. Strong institutions do not discredit those who ask questions; they answer them.

"And a thought for you, Gianni: when a leader devotes an entire post to discrediting those who are exercising legitimate scrutiny, one cannot help but wonder...Why now, of all times? Is there a reason for such a defensive tone? Is something going on that we don't know about?"

Tebas calls for Infantino to resign

When asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport if Infantino should resign, Tebas responded:

"In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up. There's no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose.

"He shouldn't stay, but the current state of affairs means he won't leave."

Tebas believes that FIFA is "rotten to its core."

"These past few days here in America, I've heard many people who are against Infantino, who disagree with what he's doing," he added.

"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."

During the World Cup, Folarin Balogun was sent off for a challenge on Bosnia & Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic. The subsequent suspension would have seen him miss the USMNT's next match against Belgium, but FIFA intervened and overturned the suspension after Trump personally contacted Infantino.

Belgium ultimately won the game anyway, but had they been eliminated, there could have been major legal ramifications for FIFA.

"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."

Tebas also criticised the proposed plan to make the 2030 World Cup into a 64-team tournament. The 2026 edition of the competition had already expanded the field from 32 teams to 48.

"Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry isn't just the World Cup," the La Liga president explained.

"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.

"Are the best players there? Clearly, but they are also in our leagues. We need fewer international matches and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don't realise they are making irresponsible decisions."

Tebas was also unhappy with how FIFA seemingly changed the format of matches as it pleased by introducing the hydration breaks, which were seen by many as a cynical ploy to allow for advertisements in the middle of games, while also increasing the half-time break in the final to 30 minutes to allow for performances from Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS.