Gianni Infantino, the president of world football's governing body Fifa, is facing the most serious challenge of his tenure – not from an election rival, but from two of his harshest critics: his predecessor Sepp Blatter and La Liga president Javier Tebas, who have both called for him to resign.
At the heart of the controversy is a growing belief among senior football figures that Infantino has prioritised the World Cup over the domestic leagues that sustain the sport, and that his leadership has damaged the credibility of the game. Tebas, the head of Spain's top flight, told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that Infantino is "destroying the football industry" and that "his time is up". Blatter, who led Fifa for 17 years before being banned over corruption scandals, used social media to demand that "fans, players and national associations reclaim football and bring it back to its roots under new leadership".
“Why Fifa president Gianni Infantino is facing calls to resign from Sepp Blatter and La Liga's Javier Tebas, and what it means for football.”
Infantino has been Fifa president since 2016, when he won an extraordinary election following the implosion of Sepp Blatter's regime. He has since been re-elected in 2019 and 2023 – both times unopposed – and is expected to stand for a fourth term in March 2027. Tebas claims the system is "rotten at its core", pointing out that there is no opposition candidate because "nobody wants to stand just to lose".
The current crisis has been inflamed by a series of events during the 2026 World Cup, which was won by Spain. Tebas criticised hydration breaks, the final's extended half-time interval, and the prospect of expanding the 2030 tournament from 48 teams to 64 – a move he described as "irresponsible" and one that would further suffocate domestic football. But the most damaging incident involved USA striker Folarin Balogun, who had a one-match suspension overturned by Fifa's disciplinary committee after a phone call between Infantino and US President Donald Trump. European football's governing body Uefa called the decision "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable", and its president Aleksander Ceferin refused to attend the World Cup final in protest. Tebas argued that if Belgium had not eliminated the USA in the last 16, the scandal "might have cost Infantino his job".
For UK readers, the stability and integrity of Fifa have direct consequences. The Premier League, the most watched domestic competition in the world, is heavily dependent on the health of the football industry. If Fifa continues to expand international tournaments at the expense of club football, the financial model that underpins clubs in England – from Manchester City to Accrington Stanley – could come under pressure. Moreover, the UK will host the 2028 European Championship alongside Ireland, and the governance of Fifa shapes decisions on player transfers, club ownership rules, and the global calendar. The sight of a US president intervening in a disciplinary matter also raises concerns about politicisation of the sport, something Blatter warned against when he said "football must never become a playground for political power".
Q: Why do people want Gianni Infantino to resign? Critics, including La Liga president Javier Tebas and former Fifa president Sepp Blatter, accuse Infantino of damaging the sport by prioritising World Cup expansion over domestic leagues, and of allowing political interference after Donald Trump helped overturn a suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun. Tebas says Infantino is "destroying the football industry".
Q: What was the Folarin Balogun incident? During the 2026 World Cup, USA striker Folarin Balogun received a one-match ban, but it was suspended by Fifa's disciplinary committee after a phone call from US President Donald Trump to Gianni Infantino. The decision allowed Balogun to play against Belgium in the last 16. European football's governing body Uefa condemned the move as "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable".
Q: Will Gianni Infantino be re-elected? Infantino is expected to be re-elected for a fourth term at Fifa's congress in March 2027. No opponent has announced a candidacy. La Liga president Javier Tebas says the election system is "rotten at its core" because no one will stand against a powerful incumbent.
What happens next is clear on paper but uncertain in practice. Infantino is all but certain to be confirmed for another term in March 2027 – unless the Balogun incident or other controversies trigger a revolt from national federations. For now, his opponents say they hear widespread discontent but see no action. As Tebas put it: "I don't know what's worse, the silence or the complicity."