La Liga president Javier Tebas has launched a scathing attack on FIFA, accusing world football’s governing body of benefiting from a “complicit silence” following the controversial decision to allow United States forward Folarin Balogun to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stages.
Balogun featured in the United States’ 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16 despite initially receiving a one-match suspension after being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. FIFA’s disciplinary committee later suspended the ban for 12 months, making the striker immediately eligible for selection.
The decision sparked widespread debate, with UEFA describing the move as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
Tebas Questions FIFA’s Governance
Tebas believes the Balogun controversy is only one example of deeper governance issues within FIFA.
The La Liga chief argued that recent decisions have steadily damaged the organisation’s credibility, claiming key decisions are often taken without sufficient consultation with domestic leagues or wider stakeholders.
He also criticised what he described as a lack of accountability and transparency within football’s global governing body.
“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 social media.
“Because staying quiet is more comfortable than defending independence, transparency and good governance.”
Balogun Decision Continues To Draw Scrutiny
The controversy intensified after United States President Donald Trump revealed he had personally requested that Balogun’s suspension be reviewed.
Brazilian referee Raphael Claus had originally dismissed Balogun during the group-stage victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
South American governing body CONMEBOL later defended Claus after Trump publicly questioned the referee’s performance but stopped short of criticising FIFA’s handling of the disciplinary process.
While UEFA has openly condemned the decision, football authorities outside Europe have largely remained silent, something Tebas believes highlights a wider reluctance to challenge FIFA.
Calls For Greater Transparency
Tebas concluded by urging football’s governing institutions to restore trust through stronger governance and greater accountability.
According to the La Liga president, football deserves organisations that respect established regulations and operate transparently rather than relying on what he described as unilateral and arbitrary decision-making.
His comments add to the growing tensions between FIFA and several leading football bodies as debates over governance, disciplinary consistency and the future direction of the global game continue.
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