La Liga Chief Tebas Says Fifa Is Destroying Football Industry

What happened: La Liga president Javier Tebas has sharply criticised Fifa, accusing the governing body of “destroying the football industry” and calling for Fifa president Gianni Infantino to quit. The Guardian reports that Tebas made the comments in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport after the 2026 World Cup.

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The immediate context is a debate over the future shape of the World Cup. The source says there have been suggestions that the 2030 tournament could be expanded from 48 teams to 64. Tebas rejected that direction, saying that increasing the number of national teams “makes no sense.”

Why it matters: Tebas is framing the dispute as a structural fight, not just a scheduling complaint. His argument is that football cannot revolve entirely around the World Cup, even if it remains the sport’s most important event. He said national competitions support the sport, which places domestic leagues at the centre of his warning about Fifa’s decisions.

Tournament impact: If the 2030 World Cup expansion idea advances, the consequences would reach beyond the tournament itself. A larger event could affect calendars, player workload, commercial windows and the balance between international football and domestic competitions. The source does not say expansion is confirmed, so the important point is the pressure building around the proposal rather than any settled format change.

Tebas also criticised hydration breaks, saying they were “a lie” and claiming they were really advertising breaks. That allegation broadens the argument from format size to match presentation and commercial control. For fans, clubs and leagues, the core issue is whether Fifa is adding more inventory to the calendar while domestic competitions carry much of the year-round burden.

What to watch: The next signal will be whether Fifa, Infantino or other major leagues respond directly to Tebas’s remarks. Also important: whether discussion of a 64-team 2030 World Cup remains informal speculation or moves into a formal proposal. Until then, this is a high-profile governance fight with real tournament implications but no confirmed format change.

Confidence: Confirmed by the source: Tebas accused Fifa of irresponsible decisions, said it was damaging the football industry, called for Infantino to quit, criticised possible World Cup expansion, and challenged the stated purpose of hydration breaks. Still needing follow-up: Fifa’s response, whether a 64-team 2030 World Cup is formally proposed, and any concrete calendar changes.