Gianni Infantino has been ripped a new one by La Liga president Javier Tebas following the recent World Cup controversies. It’s over a week since the 2026 World Cup came to an end, with Spain being crowned champions for the second time.
Luis de la Fuente’s side overcame Argentina in the final, with the South American side having been criticised for their approach. Enzo Fernandez saw red for a nasty challenge, with other Argentine players having flown into some hefty tackles against their Spanish counterparts.
Infantino had reportedly sent the Argentina squad a letter praising their performance – something that led to fierce backlash. Addressed to the president of the Argentine FA, Claudio Tapia, it supposedly read: “Dear Mr. President, Yesterday, Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the magnificent New York New Jersey Stadium, Argentina won the silver medal of the FIFA World Cup 2026, after an exciting final against Spain.
“I would like to reiterate my most sincere congratulations for this important new result for Argentine soccer… The magnificent performance of the Albiceleste also contributed decisively to making this edition an exceptional event that captivated millions of football enthusiasts around the world.”
But the criticism of the FIFA president has continued, with Tebas having slaughtered Infantino over his handling of the world’s biggest sporting event. He posted on X: “Today Gianni Infantino has written a pathetic message on his Instagram account and on the accounts of FIFA. No one disputes that football is emotion and unity.
“But transparency, good governance, and accountability are never hate; they are an obligation. Strong institutions do not discredit those who ask questions; they answer the questions.
“And a reflection Gianni: when a leader dedicates an entire message to disqualifying those who exercise legitimate scrutiny, it’s inevitable to wonder… why precisely now? Is there something that explains such a defensive tone? Is something happening that we don’t know about?”
Other controversies involved the saga involving Folarin Balogun – the USMNT striker whose red card suspension was suspended following alleged involvement from Donald Trump. FIFA denied any interference, but Trump himself bluntly revealed he called Infantino to request a review of the red card decision.
Despite the World Cup having ended, the fallout from this still rumbles on, with a leading lawmaker in the US having written to FIFA president Infantino to request that he appear before the House Judiciary Committee. It comes after Infantino awarded Trump the newly created FIFA Peace Prize before the tournament started, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) asking for an investigation into the pair’s relationship.