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La Liga chief Javier Tebas has demanded that Gianni Infantino step down from his role as FIFA president, condemning what he called "a system rotten at its core."
Infantino, who has led soccer's governing body since 2016, sparked widespread controversy throughout the summer with several incidents tied to the 2026 World Cup. These included, among other things: his apparent closeness to U.S. President Donald Trump, steep ticket prices, and the enforced hydration breaks that effectively transformed matches from two halves into four quarters.
Despite the criticism, FIFA is set to announce record earnings of $15 billion from this summer's tournament, while Trump hailed the event as "one of the greatest events of any kind ever held."
Speaking in the aftermath of Spain's World Cup final victory, La Liga president Tebas emerged as a prominent critic of Infantino, arguing that the 56-year-old should be removed from his position as soccer's top administrator.
Tebas: 'Infantino Should Go'
In a frank interview with Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport following the tournament's end, Tebas pulled no punches in his criticism of Infantino and the FIFA structure.
When asked whether the FIFA president should resign given the harm he has inflicted on the sport, Tebas responded: "In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.
"However, he has the backing of the system, of the federations, so there's not much more to say, is there? There's no opposition candidate; nobody wants to run just to lose. This is the system, and it's a system rotten at its core. He shouldn't remain, but the current situation means he won't leave.
"Over these past few days here in America, I've spoken with many people who oppose Infantino, who disagree with his direction. They voice it, but then do nothing. I'm not sure what's worse, the silence or the complicity, because those who stay quiet are fully aware of the damage football is enduring."
Tebas Calls Hydration Breaks a 'Lie'
Tebas also took aim at the introduction of hydration breaks, which he claimed were being exploited to accommodate advertising.
"FIFA arranges things however it sees fit, for its own agenda, for its own interests, certainly not for the good of football," he said.
"So, if they want a 27-minute halftime break, they'll have it. Hydration breaks are a lie. We use them in La Liga, but only when conditions are genuinely hot. Here, the pitches in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Atlanta had air conditioning; I had to put on a jacket in the stands. It was a lie, a break for advertising. And then there was the Balogun case."
When questioned about Infantino and FIFA's potential plans to expand the World Cup further, with a 64-team format being floated for 2030, Tebas was equally blunt.
He said: "Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry isn't solely the World Cup, even though it is the most prestigious event. But everything cannot revolve around the World Cup. It's the domestic competitions that keep this sport alive.
"They are dismantling the football industry, which supports tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves a fraction of players. Are the best players there? Of course, but they also play in our leagues. We need fewer national teams and greater protection for domestic football, at every level. They don't grasp it — they are making reckless decisions."
Could Infantino Be Replaced As FIFA President?
While Tebas is far from Infantino's only critic, the sitting FIFA president is widely expected to continue in his role for a fourth term, having first taken charge a decade ago when he succeeded Sepp Blatter.
Infantino will seek re-election in March next year at the 2027 FIFA Congress in Morocco, with no rival candidate currently emerging.
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Nominations must be submitted by November, while The Guardian reports that Infantino "has the formal endorsement of more than 200 FIFA members [out of 211]" despite the controversies that have surrounded the World Cup and his tenure.
Notably, the DFB (German Football Federation) and DBU (Danish Football Federation) have since confirmed they did not sign the letter backing Infantino, while UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was reported to have boycotted the World Cup final following a deterioration in his relationship with FIFA.