La Liga president Javier Tebas has launched a sharp attack on what he calls the "complicit silence" that shields Fifa from accountability, following the governing body's decision to spare United States forward Folarin Balogun from a suspension at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Balogun had received a red card during the group stage against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a decision made by referee Raphael Claus following a VAR review. Despite that, Fifa's disciplinary committee opted to suspend his one-match ban for 12 months, allowing him to feature in the United States' 4-1 last-16 defeat to Belgium.

Uefa speaks out, but others stay quiet

Uefa moved swiftly to condemn the ruling on Monday, describing it as "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable." The European body has clashed repeatedly with Fifa over several governance issues in recent years.

Beyond Europe, however, official reactions have been muted. Conmebol issued a statement defending Claus after United States president Donald Trump described the Brazilian referee as "a bit suspect" — and also revealed he had personally requested a review of the ban. Yet Conmebol stopped short of criticising either Fifa or Trump directly.

Tebas: the tip of the iceberg

Tebas, 63, went further than most, posting a detailed critique on X in which he described the Balogun ruling as merely the "tip of the iceberg." He argued that a pattern of decisions has been "eroding the credibility of Fifa and football in general for many years."

The La Liga president accused Fifa of operating as a closed shop, where outcomes are determined before votes are held and domestic leagues are excluded from any meaningful consultation.

"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. Because staying quiet is more comfortable than defending independence, transparency, and good governance," Tebas wrote.

He concluded with a call for structural reform, stating that 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 episode has sharpened existing tensions between Fifa and several football bodies, with the handling of Balogun's red card becoming a flashpoint in a long-running debate over governance and political interference in the sport.