La Liga president says ‘Infantino era is over’ at Fifa
Criticism mounts against Fifa president
Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has declared that Gianni Infantino’s tenure as Fifa president is unsustainable. Tebas, a long-standing critic of the current Fifa leadership, stated that “the Infantino era is over” and called for a broader distribution of control within the sport beyond the existing “elite.”
In an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, Tebas reiterated his demand for Infantino’s resignation. This appeal was initially made after the World Cup, preceding the controversy surrounding plans to sell a stake in the competition to private investors. Tebas expressed that Infantino’s management style has been a concern for a considerable period, noting that others appear to be recognising it more recently.
Tebas asserted that Infantino does not contribute to the growth of football, arguing that his projects are detrimental to the core essence of the sport, particularly the national leagues. He emphasised that football extends beyond an elite group, and while he believes the Infantino era has concluded, the timing and nature of the succession remain to be seen. Tebas hopes for a genuine overhaul rather than merely a change of personnel.
Infantino is currently facing efforts from European football officials and other entities to remove him from his position. Uefa has clearly indicated that Infantino’s continued leadership of world football is untenable. The Norwegian FA has also called for the president to step down, and several European associations have withdrawn their endorsements for Infantino’s re-election.
Fifa defends Infantino amid allegations
Fifa has responded to what it describes as attempts to “undermine” its president. The organisation issued a statement accusing Infantino’s critics of trying to remove him from office before the presidential election scheduled for next March. The statement highlighted that those lacking the support of Fifa’s member associations should not attempt to achieve their goals through “allegation, insinuation or misinformation” instead of through established democratic processes.
The controversy includes allegations of a “departure payment” made by Uefa to a female employee who was reportedly in a relationship with Infantino more than a decade ago, when he served as Uefa’s general secretary. Reports suggest the woman received a six-figure sum. Fifa has dismissed these allegations as “categorically untrue.”
Despite the criticism, Infantino has received support from prominent nations outside Europe, including World Cup co-host Mexico and finalists Argentina. Conmebol and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have also publicly backed Infantino. Fifa’s management board endorsed Infantino at a meeting in Morocco.
A Fifa spokesperson stated that the organisation would not support any electoral process for the Fifa President inconsistent with its statutes, democratic procedures, and governance framework. They reiterated that the Fifa President was democratically elected and continues to serve with the mandate of the member associations.
The spokesperson also noted that there is an increasing and coordinated effort by some to undermine Fifa and its president. They stressed that recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and false claims, and that speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact. Fifa maintains that its president has dedicated over 30 years to football, contributing to significant change and broadening access and opportunities globally.
Fifa welcomes legitimate scrutiny but asserts that it is not a license to distort facts or amplify unsubstantiated allegations. The organisation stated its commitment to challenging inaccurate or misleading reporting directly and vigorously. Fifa’s focus remains on strengthening the organisation, delivering for its 211 member associations, and making football truly global through the Fifa President and administration.
Uefa has maintained its threat to boycott all Fifa tournaments, even after the abandonment of the proposed sell-off plans. The women’s Under-20 World Cup is scheduled to begin in Poland on 5 September.
Source: theguardian.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
