La Liga president Javier Tebas has issued a stinging statement in response to Gianni Infantino’s 2026 World Cup rant.

Infantino has been accused of going ‘full Donald Trump’ with an unexpected statement posted on FIFA’s official website and across 15 slides on his Instagram account.

The under-fire FIFA president blasted critics of the 2026 World Cup, claiming they’ve been “consumed by hate” and urging them to “meditate, pray or watch a football match” in order to “find peace”.

Infantino claimed this summer’s tournament in North America featured “no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security” – ignoring the fact four supporters tragically died during World Cup celebrations in Mexico City.

He defended the treatment of Iran’s national football team, issues over visas, and even the hugely controversial Folarin Balogun red card situation.

“Indeed, ‘arguable’ referees’ decisions or ‘strange’ disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide,” Infantino wrote. “It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”

La Liga President Responds to Infantino’s World Cup Statement

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Rather than convince people that the 2026 World Cup was a tournament without any downsides, Infantino’s statement appears to have had the opposite effect.

The “lame-duck FIFA president” now finds himself under even more scrutiny, with La Liga president Tebas tweeting:

Infantino Called to Appear Before Congress Over Trump Ties

Reuters/Mark J Rebilas

Meanwhile, Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, has launched an investigation into Infantino, seeking documents that would detail the ties between FIFA and US President Donald Trump and his administration, per The Guardian.

“[Y]our election as FIFA president was supposed to mark a red-card break from a decades-long culture of corruption and scandals that dressed down world soccer’s reputation,” Raskin wrote to Infantino in the letter.

“Instead, at the start of your tenure, you dismantled FIFA’s ethical guardrails and disabled the organization’s ethics committee by pushing out most of its members. This lack of transparency and oversight has since paved the way for you to ingratiate yourself with the Trump administration via tactics that a New York University law professor and one of your former ethics committeemen described as ‘legal bribery’.”

Trump, who has close ties with Infantino, has reportedly lined up a potential new job for the under-pressure FIFA president.

Arsenal are now preparing their first official offer to bring a world-class superstar to the Emirates this summer, according to Sky Sports.

While Arsenal have completed the permanent signing of Piero Hincapie and brought in prolific winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, there has also been a lot of transfer disappointment.

The Gunners wanted to sign a high-profile left-sided attacker in addition to Tzolis, and they had made Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers their number one target.

A move to the Emirates for the England international had been expected to advance when the 23-year-old returned from representing his country at the 2026 World Cup, however Chelsea swooped in and agreed a £117m deal with their Premier League rivals.

Fabrizio Romano reported that the north London outfit were then making calls over a deal for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande who, at the time, looked likely to join Paris Saint-Germain after making it clear they were his preference over Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League.

Now, the 19-year-old sensation looks on the verge of joining Real Madrid instead, meaning the Gunners have once again had to explore other options.

However, Diomande’s impending move to the Bernabeu could actually potentially benefit Arsenal and their transfer plans.

Sky Sports: Arsenal Prepare First Vinicius Junior Bid

Reuters via Ueslei Marcelino

In recent days, Arsenal have been linked with a blockbuster move to sign Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior, as they look for an alternative left-sided option.

Now, Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, posting on X on Monday night, says that the Gunners are now preparing their first official offer to sign the Brazil international, who was described by Carlo Ancelotti as ‘one of the best players in the world’ during the World Cup.

It’s claimed that the north Londoners are willing to submit the bid to Real, and the 26-year-old’s camp have been informed of Arsenal’s intentions.

However, the player and Real are still in talks over a new contract, and they have now sent a counter-offer to the attacker and his camp, as they look to reach an agreement after months of negotiations.

In 375 appearances for the La Liga giants, Vini Jr has scored 128 goals and registered a century of assists.

Arsenal to Accelerate Talks to Sign Another South American

According to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs, reporting for talkSPORT, Arsenal are also set to accelerate talks to sign another South American star in Bruno Guimaraes this week.

The Newcastle United captain has emerged as a key transfer target in recent weeks, although the Magpies are reluctant to lose the Brazilian given Sandro Tonali has already departed for Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The report claims that Newcastle would be ready to reject an offer from their Premier League rivals worth £70m, but that Arsenal are ready to go north of that to land their top target.

Guimaraes is one of three South American players Arsenal are being heavily linked with right now, alongside Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid.

Any of these players would be a marquee signing and a statement of intent, as the Gunners look to retain their Premier League title and go one step further in the Champions League by winning the tournament.

Liverpool are in the hunt to bolster their forward options this summer, and PSG star Bradley Barcola is not the only player who wants to swap Paris for Anfield.

The Reds have added Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet to their squad so far this summer, but have lost all of Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson, leaving new manager Andoni Iraola with some major gaps to fill.

The attack has been made a priority with Munoz, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha the only first-team wingers in the squad, and while Barcola is the top target at the club, his PSG teammate has now made it clear he wants to join him on Merseyside.

Liverpool Offered Mbaye Deal

via Reuters

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign PSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye this summer.

Mbaye, who has been described as a ‘phenomenon’, wants to leave the back-to-back European champions in search of more regular first-team football in this window, and the Ligue 1 giants are ready to let him move on after failing to agree a new contract with him.

The teenager has been offered to a number of clubs as a result, and exploratory talks have been held between the player’s camp and Anfield chiefs.

Mbaye has made it clear in discussions that Liverpool are a club he would like to join. The Reds’ recruitment staff have scouted Mbaye extensively during his time in Paris and feel that he could be of help to them, although he is not among their leading targets.

The Senegal international, who played and scored at this summer’s World Cup, is expected to assess all of his options in the coming weeks, with more clubs expected to enter the race for his signature.

Mbaye to Liverpool Could Be Shrewd

via Reuters

While Liverpool are currently in need of players who can improve the starting line up, which is why Barcola is being chased so hard, they also need depth.

Mbaye has got bags of potential and is widely considered to be one of the top attacking talents in Europe, and alongside Ngumoha, it could help to set up the Liverpool front line for the next decade.

If a deal can be reached for the right price, and Mbaye is happy with not being a guaranteed starter but getting minutes to help balance the load of the squad while developing, then it could be a shrewd bit of business for all involved.