Rabat – LaLiga President Javier Tebas has intensified his criticism of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, declaring that his time at the head of world football is over and arguing that FIFA needs deeper structural reform rather than simply a change of leadership.
Speaking in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, Tebas said his criticism was not prompted solely by the recent controversy surrounding FIFA Forward Enterprise, the abandoned proposal that would have opened part of FIFA’s commercial operations to private investment.
“For me, the Infantino era has been over for a long time,” Tebas said. “I am not saying this because of recent events. I have seen this management style for years, even if many people seem to have discovered it only now.”
Tebas accused Infantino of pursuing projects that, in his view, weaken domestic leagues and place too much emphasis on elite international competitions.
“Gianni is not someone who contributes to the growth of football,” he said. “His projects destroy the essence of the sport, which is the domestic leagues. Football is not only about the elite.”
The LaLiga president has repeatedly criticized FIFA over the expansion of international competitions and the management of the global match calendar.
In October 2024, LaLiga joined FIFPRO Europe and European Leagues in filing a complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of failing to properly consult leagues and player representatives over changes to the international calendar.
Calls for deeper FIFA reform
Tebas said the current crisis should lead to more than a simple replacement of FIFA’s president.
“What remains to be seen is when it will happen and how the succession will take place,” he said. “I hope it is not simply about replacing some people with others, but about genuine and comprehensive reform.”
He added that he was not surprised by the controversy itself, but by the reaction of officials who had previously remained silent.
“What surprises me is the reaction of many people who stayed quiet for years,” Tebas said.
His comments come amid continued pressure on Infantino following the collapse of FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The project would have involved creating a separate company to manage major FIFA commercial operations and potentially selling a stake to private investors.
FIFA withdrew the proposal after opposition from UEFA, national associations and senior officials within the governing body.
Following an emergency meeting in Rabat last week, FIFA acknowledged mistakes in the way the project had been handled and apologized to its 211 member associations. The organization also announced an internal review.
UEFA has continued to say it has lost confidence in Infantino, while several European federations have withdrawn previous support for his re-election.
Infantino nevertheless retains significant backing elsewhere. CAF unanimously reaffirmed its support for him after the Rabat meeting.
He is expected to seek another term in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027 in Morocco. No challenger has yet formally declared a candidacy.
