LaLiga Chief Tebas Declares Infantino Era Over, Escalating FIFA Leadership Crisis

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has publicly declared that Gianni Infantino's tenure as FIFA president has ended, according to an interview with Le Monde reported by ESPN. Tebas, who has led LaLiga since 2013, stated: "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."

Tebas's comments escalate a mounting crisis around Infantino's leadership. FIFA revealed it "will not proceed" with Infantino's failed plan to seek private investment in a company that would run FIFA's competitions and sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Infantino apologized to national associations on Wednesday over how the plan was developed.

Tebas criticized Infantino's impact on the sport itself, saying: "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." He added: "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."

Tebas's position reflects broader institutional pressure. UEFA and the Football Association have called for Infantino to resign. UEFA confirmed a "departure payment" was made to a female employee who is alleged to have been in a relationship with Infantino while he was general secretary of the organization. Infantino has denied the claims regarding the relationship. A European threat to boycott the World Cup remains in place despite Infantino's apology.

FIFA has defended Infantino against what it characterizes as a "concerted effort" to weaken his authority and remove him from his role without a due re-election process. Mexico and Argentina associations have come out in support of Infantino. Tebas acknowledged the contradiction in the response, stating: "What does surprise me is the reaction of many people who remained silent for years. 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."