Javier Tebas accused FIFA of being irresponsible over plans for a 64-team World Cup in 2030.
chairman The Spanish Football League’s Javier Tebas accused FIFA of behaving “irresponsibly” after announcing discussions about a possible 64-team World Cup in 2030 in an interview with an Italian sports daily published on Tuesday.
Tebas also said FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s time is “over”, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport that there is a “system that is fundamentally flawed” that has allowed him to lead football’s global governing body for a decade.
“The football industry is not just about the World Cup, no matter how important that is,” he said.
“They are destroying the football industry – which creates thousands of jobs – for an event that lasts 40 days and only involves minority players.”
At the World Cup opening ceremony in June, Infantino mentioned “discussions about expanding to 64 teams” for the World Cup’s centenary in 2030, which would be co-hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina also hosting some matches.
“We have repeatedly expressed our concerns about the competition calendar. And now they want to organize a 64-team World Cup,” Tebas said, stressing that “it is the domestic leagues that keep the game alive”.
Tebas said, “We need fewer national teams and better security for domestic football at all levels. They don’t realize this and are making decisions irresponsibly.”
