La Liga president Javier Tebas has accused FIFA and Gianni Infantino of trying to 'destroy football' with plans to increase the number of teams at future World Cups to 64.
Spain won the final of this summer's tournament on Sunday, beating Argentina 1-0. Forty-eight teams competed across matches held in the United States, Canada and Mexico as part of an expanded format for the first time, but Infantino has already confirmed that adding a further 16 teams will be discussed.
Tebas criticises expansion plans
“Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense,” Tebas told Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport. “The football industry is not just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around the World Cup. It is national competitions that support this sport.”
“They are destroying the football industry, the one that generates tens of thousands of jobs for an event that lasts 40 days and to which the minority of players go. We need fewer national teams and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don’t realise, they decide irresponsibly.”
Infantino's leadership questioned
Tebas went on to question Infantino's position following criticism of political interference at the World Cup from US President Donald Trump. Infantino has been in power for 10 years and is expected to be elected for a fourth term next year. But Tebas wants to see change, even if he believes it is unlikely to happen.
“In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up,” he added. “But he has the support of the system, of the federations, there is not much more to add, right? There is no opposition candidate, no one wants to present themselves to lose. This is the system, and it is a system that is sick at the source.”
“In these days here in America I have heard many people against Infantino, who do not agree with what he does. They say it, but then they do nothing. I don’t know if silence or complicity is worse, because those who are silent are perfectly aware of the damage that football is suffering.”
