FIFA ‘destroying football’ for the World Cup, says Spanish football chief
In a scathing interview, La Liga President Javier Tebas says FIFA chief Gianni Infantino’s time is 'over'.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has launched a sharp attack on FIFA over its stewardship of the World Cup, saying the sport’s governing body is “destroying football,” according to a report from Al Jazeera Latest.
The comments, highlighted in a monitored public feed, come amid growing criticism from some football officials over FIFA’s direction under president Gianni Infantino. In the interview cited by Al Jazeera, Tebas also said Infantino’s time at the top of the organisation is “over,” underscoring the depth of his frustration with the federation’s leadership.
Tebas, who heads Spain’s top professional football league, has frequently been one of the more outspoken figures in European football governance. His latest remarks place him in direct conflict with FIFA at a time when the World Cup remains one of the sport’s most powerful and commercially valuable events.
The feed summary does not provide further details on the specific policies or decisions that prompted Tebas’s criticism. However, the language attributed to him suggests a broad objection to FIFA’s handling of the tournament and the wider impact he believes it is having on the game.
FIFA has long faced debate over the expansion and scheduling of its flagship competition, with administrators, clubs and leagues often divided over how international tournaments affect domestic football calendars. Tebas’s comments add to that continuing argument, though the feed does not indicate whether he was referring to a particular edition of the World Cup or to FIFA’s direction more generally.
The remarks are likely to attract attention because of Tebas’s position in one of Europe’s leading leagues and because they target Infantino directly. As head of La Liga, Tebas has been central to discussions about broadcasting, fixture congestion and the balance between club and international football.
Based on the monitored public feed from Al Jazeera Latest, the interview presents a clear sign of escalating tension between a major league executive and FIFA leadership. No response from FIFA was included in the feed summary.
Source: Al Jazeera Latest - https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/7/21/fifa-destroying-football-for-the-world-cup-says-spanish-football-chief?traffic_source=rss
