La Liga president Javier Tebas went scorched earth on FIFA president Gianni Infantino in an interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport on July 21, demanding his resignation and declaring that FIFA is “destroying the football industry.”
The power struggle on the pitch
Tebas didn’t mince words. “His time is up,” the La Liga chief said, accusing Infantino of misguided policies that have bloated the football calendar and prioritized commercial interests over the sport’s traditional structure.
The timing is pointed. Spain recently won the 2026 World Cup, giving Tebas a platform of strength from which to launch his attack. Meanwhile, Infantino is gearing up for a re-election campaign for a fourth term as FIFA president, with the vote scheduled for March 2027.
The core grievance isn’t new. European leagues have been pushing back against FIFA’s expansion of the World Cup format and the relentless fixture congestion it creates.
