Gianni Infantino has been heavily criticised by La Liga president Javier Tebas following a leaked letter to the Argentine football federation after the 2026 World Cup final. Spain beat Argentina to win the tournament, but Infantino reportedly sent a letter praising Argentina's performance, sparking backlash.
Tebas calls Infantino's message 'pathetic'
Tebas posted on X: 'Today Gianni Infantino has written a pathetic message on his Instagram account and on the accounts of FIFA. No one disputes that football is emotion and unity. But transparency, good governance, and accountability are never hate; they are an obligation. Strong institutions do not discredit those who ask questions; they answer the questions.'
He added: 'And a reflection Gianni: when a leader dedicates an entire message to disqualifying those who exercise legitimate scrutiny, it's inevitable to wonder... why precisely now? Is there something that explains such a defensive tone? Is something happening that we don't know about?'
Letter to Argentina
The letter, addressed to Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia, read: 'Dear Mr. President, Yesterday, Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the magnificent New York New Jersey Stadium, Argentina won the silver medal of the FIFA World Cup 2026, after an exciting final against Spain. I would like to reiterate my most sincere congratulations for this important new result for Argentine soccer… The magnificent performance of the Albiceleste also contributed decisively to making this edition an exceptional event that captivated millions of football enthusiasts around the world.'
Trump and Balogun controversies
Infantino's relationship with Donald Trump has also been called into question. The FIFA president awarded Trump the newly created FIFA Peace Prize before the tournament. Additionally, USMNT striker Folarin Balogun's red card suspension was lifted after Trump said he called Infantino to request a review. FIFA denied any interference.
US Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has written to Infantino requesting he appear before the House Judiciary Committee to investigate the relationship between the two.
