La Liga President Javier Tebas has launched a strong criticism against FIFA, accusing the global football governing body of “destroying football” with its potential expansion of the World Cup.

Tebas, in an interview with Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport published on Tuesday, voiced his opposition to discussions about increasing the World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. He argued that such a move prioritizes a short-term event over the long-term health of the sport's broader industry.

The Spanish football chief stated that FIFA's leadership, particularly President Gianni Infantino, is acting "irresponsibly." Tebas specifically highlighted that the World Cup, while significant, lasts only about 40 days and involves a fraction of the sport's players, contrasting this with the year-round activity of domestic leagues that he believes are the true backbone of the football industry.

Tebas suggested that Infantino's tenure as FIFA president, which has spanned a decade, has been enabled by a "fundamentally flawed" election system. He believes that FIFA is failing to recognize the vital role of domestic competitions and is making decisions that undermine the tens of thousands of jobs generated by the football industry outside of the World Cup.

The 2030 World Cup is set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with preliminary matches also scheduled for Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had mentioned "discussions about expanding to 64 teams" for this centenary event during the World Cup opening ceremony in June.

"We have repeatedly expressed our concerns about the competition calendar," Tebas said, emphasizing that "it is the domestic leagues that keep this sport alive." He asserted the need for "fewer national teams and better protection for domestic football at all levels."

FIFA has not yet responded to Al Jazeera's request for comment regarding Tebas's accusations. The Spanish league president's remarks come amidst ongoing debates about the future structure and scheduling of major international football tournaments and their impact on club football.

This criticism from a prominent figure in one of Europe's major football leagues underscores the growing tensions between continental federations, domestic leagues, and FIFA over the direction of the sport and the allocation of resources and attention.