Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has declared that Gianni Infantino's era as Fifa president is over, accusing him of "destroying the very essence of football" and urging reform at the highest levels of the sport. In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, Tebas, a longstanding critic of the current Fifa regime, called for control of the game to be expanded beyond the current "elite."
Tebas calls for Infantino's resignation
Tebas repeated his demand for Infantino to step down, a plea he first made after the World Cup but before the scandal involving secret plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. "For me, Gianni Infantino's time has long since passed," he said. "I'm not saying this because of recent events; I have noticed this style of management for a long time, though everyone else seems to be discovering it only now."
He added: "Gianni Infantino is not someone who contributes to the growth of football. On the contrary, his projects are destroying the very essence of the sport: the national leagues. Football is not limited to the elite. For me, the Infantino era is over. What remains to be seen is when that will take effect and how the succession will unfold. I hope it is not just a matter of swapping out some people for others, but of a genuine overhaul."
Pressure mounts on Infantino
Infantino is fighting to retain his position amid a coordinated effort by European football officials and others to unseat the 56-year-old Swiss. Uefa has stated that they consider Infantino's continued leadership untenable, the Norwegian FA has called for his resignation, and several European associations have withdrawn their endorsements for another term.
Uefa confirmed on Saturday that a "departure payment" was made to a female employee allegedly involved in a relationship with Infantino over a decade ago when he was Uefa's general secretary. The Daily Telegraph reported the woman received a six-figure sum, allegations that Fifa dismissed as "categorically untrue."
Fifa defends Infantino
In response, Fifa published a statement on Saturday night accusing critics of trying to remove Infantino before the presidential election next March. "Those who do not have the support of Fifa's member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through Fifa's established democratic processes," the statement read.
Infantino has support from prominent non-European nations, including World Cup co-host Mexico and finalists Argentina. Uefa has warned that a boycott of all Fifa tournaments remains possible, with the women's Under-20 World Cup due to start in Poland on 5 September.
