La Liga president says ‘Infantino era is over’ at Fifa amid calls for reform

By Charlie Bradshaw — 9 August 2026 — 3 min read

Calls for leadership change

The president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, has stated that Gianni Infantino’s tenure as Fifa president is unsustainable, asserting that the “Infantino era is over.” Tebas, a long-standing critic of the current Fifa leadership, has called for significant reform at the highest levels of football governance. He argues that Infantino is “destroying the very essence of football” and that control of the sport should extend beyond the current “elite.”

Tebas’s comments, made in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, reiterate his earlier calls for Infantino to resign. He first made this appeal after the World Cup, prior to the controversy surrounding Infantino’s plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. Tebas noted that he has observed Infantino’s management style for a considerable period, suggesting that others are only now becoming aware of it.

According to Tebas, Infantino’s projects are detrimental to the growth of football, particularly harming national leagues. He emphasised that football is not solely for the elite and expressed hope that any succession would involve a genuine overhaul rather than merely a change of personnel. Tebas’s remarks contribute to the ongoing criticism directed at Infantino, particularly following the abandoned plans for a private stake in the World Cup.

Mounting pressure and allegations

Infantino is facing an increasingly coordinated effort from European football officials and other bodies to remove him from his position. Uefa has clearly indicated that it views Infantino’s continued leadership of world football as 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 The Norwegian FA has also called for the president to step down, and several European associations have withdrawn their endorsements for Infantino’s re-election.

Further pressure has emerged with Uefa’s confirmation of a “departure payment” made to a former female employee. This payment was reportedly made to an individual alleged to have been in a relationship with Infantino more than a decade ago, during his time as Uefa’s general secretary. Reports suggest the woman received a six-figure sum following the alleged relationship, although Fifa has dismissed these allegations as “categorically untrue.”

In response to the mounting criticism, Fifa issued a statement accusing Infantino’s detractors of attempting to remove him from office before the presidential election scheduled for next March. The statement asserted that those lacking the support of Fifa’s member associations should not try to achieve their goals through “allegation, insinuation or misinformation” when they cannot do so through established democratic processes.

Support and future prospects

Despite the calls for his resignation, Infantino has received support from various nations outside Europe. This includes Mexico, a co-host of the World Cup, and Argentina, who were finalists in the tournament. The South American body Conmebol and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have also publicly backed Infantino.

Fifa has strongly denied claims regarding a payment to an alleged lover of Infantino during his time at Uefa. A spokesperson for Fifa stated that the organisation would not support any electoral process inconsistent with its statutes, democratic procedures, and governance framework. The spokesperson emphasised that the Fifa president was democratically elected and continues to serve with the mandate of the member associations.

The organisation views the ongoing efforts to undermine Infantino as a concerted campaign. Fifa maintains that recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and false claims, and that speculation should not be presented as fact. The body stated that Infantino has dedicated over 30 years to football, contributing to significant change and broadening access and opportunities globally. While acknowledging legitimate scrutiny, Fifa will challenge inaccurate or misleading reporting directly.

Uefa has indicated that its threat to boycott all Fifa tournaments remains a possibility, 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