War of Words: LaLiga Chief Criticises Argentine Football, AFA Fires Back with Defiant Response

Sports Reporter

A fiery exchange has erupted between LaLiga president Javier Tebas and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) after Tebas publicly criticised the state of Argentine domestic football, expressing “sadness” over its decline despite the country's rich footballing heritage.

In a strongly worded statement, Tebas lamented what he perceives as Argentina’s failure to translate its global footballing passion into a top-tier domestic league.

“I suffer when I see the state of Argentine football,” said Tebas. “A country with such passion and unmatched sense of belonging should have clubs performing at a much higher level.”

He went on to argue that most of Argentina's World Cup-winning squad plays abroad, unlike in Europe where domestic leagues dominate national team selections. He suggested that Argentina’s league structure and championship format are “not being done well,” adding that the nation should be among the world’s top six or seven leagues.

The AFA wasted no time in issuing a defiant rebuttal.

“Our league is not a league for a few: it is POPULAR, COMPETITIVE AND DEVELOPS PLAYERS,” read the official response. “To belittle it is to ignore our history and contribution to world football. We are the League of the World Champions.”