French Football Federation Withdraws Support for Infantino’s FIFA Re-election Bid

The French Football Federation (FFF) has officially withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s campaign to remain FIFA president, stating that confidence in the current leadership has been shattered. FFF President Philippe Diallo announced the decision on Thursday, confirming that the federation’s executive committee reached the move unanimously.

“The trust placed in the FIFA president has been broken,” Diallo told reporters. “The way in which we envisage the running of world football no longer corresponds with the way it is being conducted.”

Infantino, who is seeking a new term, has faced intensifying scrutiny since July when he scrapped a proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The plan had drawn widespread opposition from football’s regional confederations.

Diallo noted that France had initially endorsed Infantino at the end of June when he was the sole declared candidate. However, he argued that subsequent developments fundamentally altered the situation. “The conditions for our support for his candidacy were no longer there,” Diallo said.

According to Diallo, the proposed stake sale was put forward without adequate consultation or information sharing with member federations, raising serious concerns regarding FIFA’s governance and decision-making transparency.

France is not alone in its dissatisfaction. Several European associations, including those from England and Italy, have also pulled their backing from Infantino following the collapse of the privatization plan. Meanwhile, UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and North America’s CONCACAF have demanded changes at the top of world football’s governing body and are actively seeking a credible alternative ahead of the March election.

Diallo framed France’s move as part of a broader shift within UEFA and beyond. He emphasized that moving forward requires more than just criticism; it demands concrete proposals. “It is not enough simply to criticise if you want things to move forward. You also have to make proposals,” he said.

The FFF president added that UEFA will need to establish a platform for the next FIFA leadership cycle and select a candidate capable of defeating Infantino when the time comes. “We will need to be ready by then to put forward a candidacy capable of winning the FIFA presidency,” Diallo stated.

Despite the growing number of defections, Infantino retains the support of South America’s CONMEBOL and Africa’s CAF. The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Rabat, with the deadline for submitting candidacies set for November 18.