Tebas calls for Infantino to quit as FIFA president

Javier Tebas, the president of Spain's top-flight football league La Liga, has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down. In an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas said he believes Infantino's 'time is up', though he acknowledged the 56-year-old has the backing of national federations. Tebas also criticised the FIFA election system, calling it 'rotten at its core'.

Tebas voiced strong disapproval of several FIFA decisions during the World Cup in the United States. He condemned the mandatory three-minute hydration breaks, arguing they were a pretext for advertising rather than player welfare. He also slammed the extended half-time interval in the final, which lasted 27 minutes and 22 seconds due to performances by pop stars.

Another point of contention was the postponement of a suspension for US striker Folarin Balogun following intervention from US President Donald Trump. Tebas claimed that if Belgium had not eliminated the USA, the controversy could have cost Infantino his job. European football's governing body UEFA previously called the decision 'unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable'.

Tebas also criticised the prospect of a 64-team World Cup, arguing that 'not everything can revolve around the World Cup' and that FIFA is 'destroying the football industry' which sustains tens of thousands of jobs. He said FIFA acts in its own interests, not for the good of the sport.

Infantino is expected to be re-elected for a fourth term at FIFA's congress in March. BBC Sport has contacted FIFA for comment.