LaLiga President also demands resignation of FIFA boss Infantino

Gianni Infantino should resign as FIFA president because he is "destroying the football industry" by expanding international competitions, LaLiga president Javier Tebas said on Monday.

It is not the first time he has criticised Infantino for overloading fixture lists and considering a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams.

"Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry is not just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around the World Cup," Tebas told "Gazzetta dello Sport".

"System rotten to the core"

"In my opinion, his time is up," he said of Infantino.

"However, he has the support of the system and the federations, so there's not much more to add, is there? There's no opposing candidate, no one wants to run just to lose. That's the system and it's rotten to the core."

"He shouldn't stay, but he won't leave. I've heard many people who are against Infantino. They say it, but then they do nothing. I don't know what's worse: the silence or the complicity, because those who remain silent are fully aware of the damage football is suffering."

The South American football confederation CONMEBOL has submitted an official proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams. The World Cup is already set to be the most extensive edition, with six hosts across three continents.

"It is the national competition that keeps this sport alive," Tebas added. "They are destroying the football industry, which creates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves a minority of players."

"Drink breaks are a lie"

He also criticised world football's governing body FIFA for the new drink breaks introduced at the World Cup, which ended on Sunday, as well as the extended half-time break of 27 minutes – instead of the usual 15 – during the final, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0.

The mid-half drink breaks were introduced to help players cope with the summer heat in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Critics, however, argue that they had unintended consequences, disrupting the flow of the game and giving coaches the opportunity to tactically influence the match in their favour.

"FIFA arranges things as it pleases, according to its wishes, for its own interests – certainly not for football," Tebas said. "Drink breaks are a lie. We have them in La Liga, but only when it's really hot. Here, the pitches in Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta had air conditioning. It was a lie – and just an advertising break."

Infantino announced in April that he would seek re-election for a fourth term as president. The vote for the 2027 to 2031 period is scheduled for March 18 in Morocco.