French Football Federation Withdraws Support for Infantino

The French Football Federation has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino, ending more than a decade of backing and joining a growing European challenge to the FIFA president. The decision marks a sharp change in position for FFF president Philippe Diallo and removes a major federation from Infantino’s re-election camp.

The FFF executive committee made the decision on Thursday, 10 September, ahead of the FIFA election scheduled for 18 March 2027. It cited a breakdown in confidence and a series of governance decisions it considers inconsistent with football’s core values. The federation had been particularly critical of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which Infantino presented on 28 July. The plan involved selling a 20% stake in FIFA competitions, including World Cup rights, to private investors for about $4 billion, with part of the proceeds intended for the Trump family. The proposal was dropped on 1 August after criticism.

France now stands alongside England and Italy, which have also distanced themselves from Infantino. The Netherlands went further by proposing an Amsterdam summit to discuss FIFA’s future without him. The European dissent is a setback for Infantino, but it does not decide the election. FIFA’s voting system gives each federation one vote, and he retains significant backing in Africa, South America and Oceania. He still holds a theoretical majority, while no clearly credible challenger has emerged.