‘Who is the liar?’ Tebas challenges FIFA over Morocco World Cup final denial

La Liga president Javier Tebas has questioned FIFA’s denial that Morocco has been promised the 2030 World Cup final, turning his criticism towards the governing body rather than the North African country.

FIFA recently rejected claims that the final would be staged at the Grand Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca after Moroccan football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa suggested the venue would host the tournament’s showpiece match.

Tebas, a long-standing critic of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, responded by questioning why the organisation would dismiss the claim when it came from one of the most influential figures in Moroccan football.

Tebas questions FIFA’s version

Tebas wrote sarcastically on social media: “Another denial from FIFA! Nothing new, denial has become an almost official policy of this federation, and now they describe the holding of the 2030 World Cup final in Morocco as a lie and misinformation.”

He then focused on Lekjaa’s position within both Moroccan and international football.

“The problem lies in the identity of the one who said it. It is not a journalist, nor just a rumor on social media. It is Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Moroccan Football Federation, a member of the FIFA Council, and the Moroccan government’s delegate minister responsible for the budget.”

Tebas continued: “Lekjaa claims that the final will be held in Casablanca, and FIFA denies this. So who is the liar? The president of the organizing federation, a member of the FIFA Council, and a minister in the Moroccan government? Or should we believe, once again, Infantino’s official denial?”

La Liga chief recalls Club World Cup incident

The Spanish league president also referred to an incident from the Club World Cup which he believes demonstrates what he described as a pattern of FIFA denials.

“We know this method very well. During the Club World Cup, Trump called Infantino regarding the red card shown to Balogun. FIFA assured us that the call had nothing to do with anything. Then, purely by chance, the suspension was lifted and the player was allowed to play, but this also had nothing to do with the matter… and now another denial.”

Tebas’ reference was to the controversy surrounding the suspension of Balogun during the competition and the subsequent decision that allowed the player to return.

Tebas delivers another attack on FIFA

Tebas ended his comments with another sarcastic criticism of FIFA’s handling of controversial claims.

“Perhaps FIFA will soon have to create a new section on its website entitled: Current Denials, with the publication date and, more importantly, the expiration date, because when denials become a habit for an organization, it reaches a point where it is no longer what it denies that is the problem, but who believes it.”

FIFA has maintained that it has not decided which stadium will host the 2030 World Cup final, with Morocco, Spain and Portugal set to stage the majority of the tournament’s matches.