La Liga president Javier Tebas has delivered a scathing verdict on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, declaring that the 'Infantino era is over' following the collapse of plans to sell shares in the World Cup and Club World Cup.
Speaking to French newspaper Le Monde, Tebas said Infantino's leadership has been failing for years and that the recent backlash over the share sale plans is only the tip of the iceberg.
Tebas: 'Infantino's time has long since passed'
'What is happening does not surprise me. What does surprise me is the reaction of many people who remained silent for years,' Tebas said. 'This episode is only the tip of the iceberg of what has been going on within an institution, FIFA, but also more broadly in football, where there are no real governance policies.'
He added: 'For me, Gianni Infantino's time has long since passed. 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.'
Plans scrapped but pressure mounts
The proposed sale of shares in the World Cup and Club World Cup faced a huge backlash, with UEFA threatening to boycott tournaments if the plans went ahead. While the plans have been scrapped, Infantino has refused to step down, with FIFA claiming he has their 'full support'.
The Football Association and the Welsh FA are among those to formally withdraw their support for Infantino ahead of the FIFA elections in March next year. To win the election, he needs the support of 106 of the 211 associations, which looks far from certain.
Tebas criticises FIFA's governance
Tebas also criticised the organisation of the Club World Cup and the failed effort to make it profitable, saying decisions were made without key stakeholders like leagues being informed. He referenced the Super League episode, claiming Infantino appeared in working documents of the league's promoters.
'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,' Tebas said. 'Football is not limited to the elite. For me, the Infantino era is over.'
He expressed hope for a genuine overhaul, not just a change of personnel: '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.'
