French Football Federation Withdraws Support for Gianni Infantino Ahead of FIFA Election

French Football Federation Breaks Ranks on Infantino

Governance Concerns and Shelved Commercial Plans

The split centers on governance concerns and a contentious commercial proposal. Infantino faced backlash over a previously floated plan to open the World Cup to private investors by housing tournament revenues in a commercial entity. Although that proposal was ultimately shelved, the fallout continued to erode trust among major football federations.

Diallo Points to Broken Trust in World Football

“We consider that in a certain way the confidence placed in the FIFA president has been broken, that the way in which we envisage the conduct of world football no longer corresponds to us,” Diallo stated after the Paris meeting. He emphasized that the executive committee’s decision was made unanimously and purely for the general interest of the sport.

France Joins Growing European Opposition Bloc

By breaking ranks, the FFF positions itself alongside other prominent European football authorities—including Italy, Belgium, Sweden, and Scotland—that have distanced themselves from the current FIFA administration. Diallo underscored France’s unique position in the global game, citing a dual mandate: historical legitimacy as a founding nation of FIFA and sporting legitimacy rooted in the French men’s national team maintaining a top-three ranking in the global standings for a decade.

Infantino Presses Ahead as 2027 Vote Approaches

Despite the mounting pressure from Europe and the pressure of several fédérations ainsi que les confédérations asiatique (AFC) et Amérique du Nord-Caraïbes (Concacaf), Infantino confirmed his intention to run for another term during a public appearance. Having led world football’s governing body since 2016, the current president remains the sole declared candidate for the March 18, 2027 election, though reports indicate potential challengers like CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani could enter the race.

With its official stance locked in, the FFF announced it will open internal consultations to determine which candidate it will ultimately back as the electoral timeline progresses toward 2027.