[ad_1]
La Liga president Javier Tebas has again criticized FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying he should step down over decisions he believes are damaging football. Tebas accused FIFA of putting commercial interests ahead of sport by expanding international tournaments and increasing match congestion. His latest comments come amid discussions about expanding the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams.Tebas said further expansion of the World Cup would harm domestic competitions, which he believes are the backbone of football. “Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry is not only the World Cup, which is the most important event. But everything cannot revolve around the World Cup,” he told the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, as reported by the AP news agency.He also called on Infantino to step down, saying: “In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.” Tebas added that many people are privately opposed to Infantino but do not act, claiming: “He should not stay, but he will not leave…those who remain silent are perfectly aware of the damage that football is suffering.”Tebas also criticized FIFA’s hydration breaks and 27-minute extra time during the World Cup final, saying: “The hydration breaks are a lie… It was a lie – and just an advertising break.”
A group of fans joins the criticism
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) also condemned FIFA’s management of the World Cup, calling for major governance reforms. The group accused FIFA of favoring commercial interests over fans, pointing to high ticket prices, expensive travel, poor communication and changes to football traditions. The FSE argued that the tournament damaged the reputation of both FIFA and the World Cup, concluding that “FIFA is not capable of governing global football” and accusing Infantino of putting financial and political interests ahead of the future of the game.
[ad_2]
Source link