Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has accused the football world of maintaining a "complicit silence" over Fifa's decision to allow United States striker Folarin Balogun to play in the World Cup after his red card was controversially suspended.
Balogun was sent off by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus following a VAR review during the group-stage match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Fifa's disciplinary committee then opted to suspend his one-game ban for 12 months, meaning the 18-year-old was able to feature in the 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the last 16.
“Javier Tebas criticises 'complicit silence' around Fifa after Folarin Balogun's red card ban was controversially suspended.”
Uefa — which has been at loggerheads with Fifa over a number of issues — called the move "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable" on Monday. But outside Europe, there has been little criticism. Conmebol, the South American confederation, issued a statement backing Claus after US president Donald Trump called the referee "a bit suspect", but did not criticise Fifa or Trump, who revealed he asked for the ban to be reviewed.
Tebas said the Balogun decision was the "tip of the iceberg" following a series of events that have been "eroding the credibility of Fifa and football in general for many years". The 63-year-old accused Fifa of being a closed shop in which decisions are made before any vote takes place and without consultation with domestic leagues.
"And the worst of all is that much of the football world is aware of it, but too many prefer to maintain a complicit silence," Tebas wrote on X. "Because staying quiet is more comfortable than defending independence, transparency, and good governance."
He added: "World football deserves institutions that are accountable, respect the rules, and govern with transparency — not through unilateral, discretionary, arbitrary decisions that erode the trust of fans, clubs, leagues, and players."
The intervention by Trump — who called Claus "a bit suspect" — has raised questions about political influence over football's governing body. Tebas's blunt criticism, rare among major league presidents, now puts renewed pressure on Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who has remained silent on the matter. The silence from other confederations and leagues, Tebas suggests, is complicity.