La Liga president Javier Tebas gave an interview to L'Équipe in which he defended his comments about Real Madrid and spoke about the Ballon d'Or and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. GOAL wrote that Tebas sat down with the French newspaper after a turbulent week.
Response to the Real Madrid remarks
GOAL wrote that the row followed remarks comparing Real Madrid’s media approach to Nazi propaganda, and that word had reached Tebas that the Higher Sports Council was weighing an investigation into his comments.
As reported by Cadena SER, Tebas said: "I did not describe anyone as a Nazi, I was talking about a communication strategy."
Ballon d'Or view
Tebas said: "If Mbappe wins the Ballon d'Or, it would be deserved, but I hope Rodri repeats his achievement."
He described Mbappe as "one of the best players in the world, he is a global star, a great player who contributes significantly to his team and the league in general"
Criticism of Infantino
Tebas said: "I have opposed him for ten years, and I have not changed my mind."
He added: "Recent events confirm my point of view. He takes unilateral decisions without consulting the parties concerned, especially the federations. Most of his decisions, whether related to the calendar, the competitions, or the expansion of the Club World Cup, cause serious harm to national leagues, both large and small, and consequently to the players themselves"
Comments on FIFA's image
Tebas said: "FIFA's image has been severely damaged for years. As for Infantino, the matter is clear: his image is far from being ideal"