Spanish football chief calls for Infantino to resign: 'FIFA is destroying football!'

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FT Desk

La Liga president Javier Tebas has called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign from his post following a series of controversies surrounding the 2026 World Cup.

Infantino has received continuous criticism over the past few months due to his increasingly personal relationship with United States President Donald Trump, FIFA's decision to implement hydration breaks at World Cup matches, the much-maligned half-time show at the final and, of course, the Folarin Balogun saga.

It was the situation with Balogun that proved the most egregious for most, with UEFA even releasing a statement insisting FIFA had crossed a line when they made the decision to overturn his suspension so he could play for the USMNT against Belgium.

Infantino is also reportedly the subject of an investigation with the European Parliament following the Balogun fiasco, as FIFA is supposed to remain politically neutral.

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, 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.