Spain's La Liga Chief Demands FIFA President Infantino's Resignation

Javier Tebas, the president of Spain's La Liga, has openly called for the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that world football requires new leadership. Tebas argued in a social media post that the global football governing body needs a leader who can modernize its structures, restore institutional credibility, and foster collaborative decision-making with stakeholders.

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The world football needs new leadership that modernizes the association structures, restores institutional credibility and develops future decisions together with the affected stakeholders.

Tebas's criticism intensified after Infantino abandoned a plan to sell stakes in commercial rights for FIFA competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup, to private investors. Tebas contends that the core issue is Infantino's "model of association management," which he believes concentrates power, weakens oversight, and marginalizes those directly affected by FIFA's decisions. He emphasized that abandoning the proposal does not negate the underlying problems, calling it merely "the tip of the iceberg."

Infantino, who has faced significant criticism, is reportedly seeking re-election for another four-year term at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, next March. Despite the growing dissent, he still commands support from several football federations. The Egyptian Football Association has reaffirmed its "full confidence" in Infantino's leadership, and Morocco, a co-host of the 2030 men's World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, has also reiterated its backing.

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The problem was never just this one proposal. The problem is a model of association management that concentrates power, weakens control mechanisms and marginalizes those who are directly affected by the decisions.

While Tebas advocates for a new direction, Infantino's position remains bolstered by support from key regions. The upcoming FIFA Congress will be crucial in determining the future leadership of the organization amidst these calls for change and ongoing debates about its governance model.

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The withdrawal of a proposal does not undo what has happened. It is merely the tip of the iceberg.