France withdraws support for Infantino’s FIFA re-election bid
The French Football Federation says trust in FIFA leadership has broken down after an abandoned proposal to sell stakes in football competitions to private investors.
The French Football Federation has unanimously withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president, according to Al Jazeera Global News.
FFF president Philippe Diallo said the decision reflected a breakdown in trust and concerns over how world football is governed. France had backed Infantino in June, when he was the only declared candidate, but said subsequent events had changed the circumstances.
The decision follows the abandonment in July of a proposal to sell private investors a 20 per cent stake in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The proposal faced opposition from regional confederations, with Diallo raising concerns about consultation, information-sharing and FIFA’s decision-making process.
France joins several European federations, including England and Italy, in withdrawing support for Infantino. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF are seeking change at FIFA’s leadership, while Infantino retains support from CONMEBOL and CAF, according to the source.
The FFF will take part in discussions on governance reform and identifying a candidate capable of challenging Infantino. No confirmed alternative candidate has been identified in the available material.
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for 18 March 2027 in Rabat, with candidacies due by 18 November.
