Spanish chief accuses FIFA boss of 'destroying the football industry'

Lead

The president of Spain's top football league has called for the resignation of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of "destroying the football industry" through the expansion of international competitions. In an interview with Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, La Liga president Javier Tebas said Infantino's time as head of world football's governing body is "over," while also criticizing FIFA's leadership election process as "fundamentally flawed."

Coverage Comparison

Two international news outlets — ABC Australia and Al Jazeera — reported on Tebas's remarks, both focusing on his sharp criticism of Infantino and FIFA's recent decisions. ABC Australia highlighted Tebas's demand for Infantino's resignation and his assertion that FIFA's actions are harming the football industry. Al Jazeera's coverage centered on Tebas's statement that Infantino's time is "over" and his characterization of FIFA's decision-making as "irresponsible."

While both outlets quoted Tebas directly, their emphases differed slightly. ABC Australia gave prominence to Tebas's call for Infantino to step down and his comments about the "rotten" system that supports the FIFA president. Al Jazeera placed greater weight on Tebas's critique of FIFA's governance, including his lament about how the organization's leadership is elected.

Key Claims

Tebas's central accusation is that FIFA, under Infantino's leadership, is prioritizing the World Cup at the expense of domestic leagues, which he says are the true foundation of the sport. "It's national competition that sustains this sport," Tebas told La Gazzetta dello Sport, as reported by ABC Australia. He argued that FIFA is "destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves a minority of players."

The immediate trigger for Tebas's comments appears to be a proposal by CONMEBOL, South American soccer's ruling body, to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams. The tournament, which will mark the World Cup's centenary, is already set to be the most geographically sprawling edition, with matches planned across multiple continents. According to Al Jazeera, the 2030 World Cup will be cohosted primarily by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina also hosting matches.

Tebas questioned the logic of expanding the tournament further. "Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense," he said, as quoted by ABC Australia. "The football industry isn't just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around the World Cup."

In addition to the expansion proposal, Tebas criticized FIFA's introduction of hydration breaks and the extended half-time interval during the recent World Cup. ABC Australia noted that the final featured a 27-minute half-time, well above the standard 15 minutes, due to a performance by artists including Justin Bieber. Tebas implied that such changes prioritize entertainment over the integrity of the sport.

Tebas also expressed frustration with the lack of opposition to Infantino within football's governance structures. "There's no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose," he said, according to ABC Australia. "This is the system and it's rotten at its core." He added: "I've heard many people who are against Infantino. 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."

Al Jazeera reported that Tebas emphasized the importance of domestic leagues in keeping the sport alive, stating, "We need fewer national teams and better protection for domestic football at all levels." He accused FIFA of making decisions "irresponsibly," without due consideration for the broader football ecosystem.

The Football Supporters Europe group has also weighed in, calling for structural governance reforms within FIFA, as reported by ABC Australia. The group's concerns align with Tebas's criticisms of the organization's decision-making processes and lack of accountability.

As of the reporting by Al Jazeera, FIFA had not responded to a request for comment on Tebas's accusations.