Infantino has faced scathing criticism during the 2026 FIFA World Cup for a range of issues, from exorbitant ticket prices and problems with certain teams and players obtaining visas to inconsistent application of rules on red cards and suspensions.
After the tournament, Infantino revealed plans to sell off shares in future World Cup tournaments to private investors, which caused a rebellion from member nations around the world that culminated in UEFA threatening to boycott future tournaments if the plan went ahead.
The unprecedented backlash caused Infantino and FIFA to back down and scrap the plan, but the lack of confidence in his ability to lead FIFA going forward remains.
Tebas has now joined the criticism of Infantino, saying it is time for big changes at FIFA.
"What is happening does not surprise me. What does surprise me is the reaction of many people who remained silent for years," he told Le Monde.
"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. And the problem is not limited to one person: It is about an entire system.
"The old system can persist even when the people change. Let's hope things truly change, that a new leader arrives, and that new governance is established at FIFA.
"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.
"Look at the organisation of the Club World Cup, what happened in the effort to make it profitable... Decisions were made without key stakeholders in football - the leagues - even being informed. That is how things have been managed for years.
"And I have not forgotten the Super League episode, where Gianni Infantino appeared in the working documents of the league's promoters. In fact, there are connections: Some of the same actors from that time are now involved in the FIFA Forward Enterprise project.
"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.
"Football is not limited to the elite. 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."
