Gianni Infantino is once again facing calls to resign as FIFA president. La Liga president Javier Tebas and former FIFA head Sepp Blatter have both criticized his leadership in light of the controversy surrounding the 2026 World Cup.
Event Context
The calls for leadership change come shortly after Spain triumphed over Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final, marking the conclusion of the tournament’s inaugural 48-team edition. While FIFA celebrates the event’s impressive attendance and commercial success, President Gianni Infantino is facing increasing scrutiny over his handling of political matters, disciplinary decisions, and plans for further expanding the World Cup format.
During an interview with Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, La Liga President Javier Tebas made a direct plea for Infantino’s resignation, stating, “In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.” Despite his strong stance, Tebas acknowledged that he does not anticipate Infantino’s removal due to the backing he has from FIFA’s national associations.
Infantino has announced his intention to run for another term as FIFA president, with the election for the 2027-31 cycle set for March 18, 2027, in Morocco.
The controversy was further fueled by the case of United States striker Folarin Balogun, whose one-match suspension was deferred following his red card during the World Cup. This decision was influenced by a request from US President Donald Trump to Infantino for a review, leading FIFA’s disciplinary committee to postpone the ban for a year, permitting Balogun to participate in the United States’ last-16 match against Belgium.
While Belgium secured a 4-1 victory, Tebas argued that this outcome allowed FIFA to evade a more significant governance crisis. He criticized the suspension of Balogun’s ban as an “extremely serious matter,” suggesting it could have jeopardized Infantino’s position had the U.S. advanced further in the tournament. Tebas called this incident just the “tip of the iceberg.”
UEFA has condemned FIFA’s handling of the Balogun case, asserting that the decision crossed a vital line by making an exception to an automatic suspension during the tournament. UEFA warned of potential threats to the integrity of the game when rules are not consistently enforced, characterizing FIFA’s actions as “unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable.”
In response, FIFA maintained that its disciplinary committee acted independently, adhering to the applicable regulations and the unique circumstances of the case.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has also voiced criticism, claiming the World Cup lost its credibility and that politics had overshadowed the sport. Tebas further criticized proposals to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, asserting that FIFA’s relentless push for expansion endangers domestic leagues and the numerous jobs they support. “They’re destroying the football industry,” he declared, accusing FIFA of prioritizing a month-long tournament over the club competitions that sustain football year-round.
Player Focus
In a recent post on X, Blatter emphasized that politics should never overshadow the sport. He called on fans, players, and national federations to ‘reclaim football’ and restore its essence ‘under new leadership’.
Match Outlook
“He should not remain, yet the current situation indicates he will not depart,” Tebas stated, noting that there were no viable candidates ready to contest against Infantino in an election they anticipated would end in defeat.
