La Liga President Calls for FIFA Chief Infantino's Resignation

Tebas Urges Change in FIFA Leadership

In a recent statement, La Liga President Javier Tebas has urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, suggesting that his time in office has come to an end. Tebas expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a leadership change, indicating that the current FIFA structure discourages potential challengers.

He pointed out that while many individuals privately criticize Infantino's leadership and decisions, they lack the courage to publicly oppose him or present a serious challenge.

"I believe it’s time for him to go. However, the existing circumstances suggest he will remain in power," Tebas remarked, as reported by a news outlet.

"There are no candidates to oppose him; no one wants to risk running just to lose. This flawed system is the root of the problem. Many people voice their discontent with Infantino's actions but fail to take any action," he added.

Tebas also condemned FIFA's choice to overturn the one-match suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun following his red card during the World Cup, labeling it an "extremely serious issue."

He argued that FIFA was fortunate Belgium eliminated the U.S., as the situation could have escalated into a significant controversy with potential repercussions for Infantino.

Tebas characterized this incident as merely "the tip of the iceberg" concerning broader governance issues within FIFA.

"The decision to lift the American player's suspension is a grave matter. They were lucky Belgium won, or it could have led to a situation that might have jeopardized Infantino's position. Since Belgium triumphed, they managed to suppress the issue. However, these incidents are just the beginning of larger concerns," he stated.

Balogun's participation in the tournament ended amid controversy after FIFA lifted the one-match ban he received following his red card in the U.S.'s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing him to play against Belgium.

This decision led to a challenge from Belgium, but FIFA dismissed the protest and confirmed Balogun's eligibility for the Round of 16 match.

Ultimately, Belgium eliminated the United States from the tournament, marking the end of the campaign for the last of the three co-hosts, following the exits of Canada and Mexico.