La Liga chief says FIFA ‘destroying football industry’

La Liga president Javier Tebas launched a scathing attack on FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, accusing them of "destroying the football industry" with irresponsible decisions. Tebas specifically targeted discussions about expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, arguing that such a move prioritizes a 40-day event over the year-round health of the sport. "The football industry is not just about the World Cup, however important it may be," Tebas told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "They are destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves only a minority of players." He asserted that domestic leagues are the true lifeblood of football, stating, "it is the domestic leagues that keep this sport alive." Tebas called for fewer national teams and greater protection for domestic competitions at all levels, lamenting that FIFA's current leadership fails to grasp this reality.

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The football industry is not just about the World Cup, however important it may be. They are destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves only a minority of players.