LaLiga chief Tebas calls for Infantino's resignation, criticizes Real Madrid

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has publicly called for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign, citing a recent, ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to establish a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to commercialize World Cup operations. Tebas expressed his strong disapproval on social media, stating that while FIFA's withdrawal of the privatization proposal is positive news, it does not resolve the underlying governance issues within the organization. He urged confederations, associations, leagues, and players not to consider the matter closed, emphasizing that the problem runs much deeper.

Tebas questioned Infantino's leadership by referencing past controversies, including the withdrawal of a red card after political intervention, a U.S. Congress investigation into alleged serious misconduct, the dropping of historical corruption charges, exorbitant World Cup ticket prices, and unilateral decisions on the international calendar and competition formats made without adequate dialogue. He asserted that FIFA's "centralized governance model" is the core problem and called for "new, more modern leadership" to restore institutional credibility and ensure future decisions are made collaboratively.

Furthermore, Tebas directed criticism towards Real Madrid's reaction to the FIFA situation. While acknowledging the club's rejection of FIFA's attempt to unilaterally control future football revenues, he questioned the timing and potential involvement of financial entities like JP Morgan, drawing parallels to the Super League project. Tebas specifically questioned the presence of a Real Madrid associate in New York during the week of the final and suggested a connection between JP Morgan's involvement in both the FIFA deal and the Super League, implying a pattern of seeking private equity investment without broad consultation.