La Liga President: FIFA is Destroying Football with Lies, Infantino Must Go

Javier Tebas returned to Madrid from New York yesterday in high spirits. Spanish football is thriving, in excellent health, and more united than ever after "La Furia" secured the World Cup title. The La Liga president spent the past few days with the national team, alongside representatives from all league clubs, who were invited by the football federation to participate in the celebration of "Spanish football." Everyone attended numerous events organized in Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York, including Joan Laporta and Emilio Butragueño. Now, the boss has given an extensive interview to "Gazzetta dello Sport," commenting on Spain's success and pressing issues regarding Gianni Infantino's management of FIFA.

"This is a community effort. From the clubs, with their academies, which have been strengthened and meticulously maintained in recent years. From La Liga – a strong, high-quality, and sustainable competition that provided 17 of the 26 players called up for the national team. And, of course, especially from the federation, which knows how to select and develop national talent within our clubs."

"Exactly. Luis de la Fuente joined the federation in 2013 and has developed exceptional young players, starting from the U19 team and leading the national squad to the World Cup title with 10 players he coached in the youth ranks. Along this journey, he also served as an educator, spending three years as an instructor in coaching courses. In football, there's a tendency to focus on names, but people are what make the difference. At all levels, we have incredibly qualified individuals working for the good of national football. No other country has been world champion simultaneously in both men's and women's football."

"Yes, and I link this to another term I've already used: sustainability. Since 2013, La Liga has maintained and enforced very precise and strict salary caps for its clubs, which encourages different teams to strengthen their youth development. Talent development generates quality on the pitch and potential economic revenue. All clubs know very well that this is the way: bringing academy players into the first team. We just won the U19 European Championship, and we also have an Olympic medal and a European Championship success. You don't win so much, at every age group, by chance. It all starts from the foundation. Of course, you have to try to attract great players, but success is built from the ground up."

His focus then shifted to FIFA, the global football governing body.

"FIFA arranges things however it wants, for whatever it wants, in its own interest, but certainly not in the interest of football. So, if they need a 27-minute break between halves, they'll have it. Hydration breaks are a lie. We have them in La Liga, but only when it's genuinely hot. Here, the pitches in Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta had air conditioning; I had to wear a sweater in the stands. That was a lie, a commercial break. And then came the Balogun case. This is proof that we are governed by an institution that does and decides whatever it wants, whenever it wants, following only its own interests, without considering – I'm not even saying consulting – the rest of football. And in many cases, it acts to the detriment of football," Tebas fumed.

"It's difficult because the system has active accomplices who collaborate with such decisions, and passive accomplices who remain silent, don't speak out, and do nothing to prevent certain things from recurring. They criticize the system over coffee at the bar or on the phone in private conversations, but then do nothing to put an end to it all. The overturning of the American player's penalty was an absolutely serious problem; they were lucky that Belgium eliminated the USA, because otherwise, a situation could have arisen that would have cost Infantino his position. Since Belgium won, they were able to sweep the issue under the rug. But these things are just the tip of the iceberg."

"The Super League decision gave FIFA and UEFA enormous power, confirming their monopoly. However, they should have used this monopoly to work with the various stakeholders in our industry and for the good of football, with common and regulatory transparency and consensual decisions. Not to do what FIFA is currently doing. We have repeatedly expressed concerns about the calendar. And now they want a World Cup with 64 teams."

"Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense whatsoever. The football industry isn't just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around it. National leagues are what 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 small fraction of players. Are the best players there? Of course, but they are also in our leagues. We need fewer national teams and more protection for national football at all levels. They don't realize they are making irresponsible decisions."

"In my opinion, I think Infantino's time is up. However, he has the support of the system, of the federations, so there's nothing more to add, right? There's no opposition candidate; no one wants to run just to lose. This is the system, and it's rotten to the core. He shouldn't stay, but the current situation means he won't leave. In the past few days here in America, I've heard many people who are against Infantino, who disagree with what he's doing. They say it, but then they do nothing. I don't know what's worse – silence or complicity, because those who are silent are fully aware of the damage football is suffering."