The French Football Federation has withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino

The French soccer federation is withdrawing its support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA chief next year, FFF president Philippe Diallo said on Thursday, saying confidence in the head of world soccer’s governing body had been eroded.

The decision was taken unanimously by the FFF executive committee, Diallo said.

“The trust placed in the FIFA president has been broken,” Diallo told reporters. “The way we imagine world football to be run no longer matches the way it is run.”

Infantino, who is seeking another term as FIFA president, has faced growing criticism since its failed proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors was abandoned in July after widespread opposition from football’s regional confederations.

Diallo said that France had initially supported Infantino’s candidacy in late June, when he was the only declared candidate, but that subsequent events had fundamentally changed the circumstances.

“The conditions for our support of his candidacy were no longer there,” he said.

Diallo added that the proposed stake sale, which occurred without proper consultation or information being provided to the federations, raised serious questions about FIFA’s governance and decision-making.

Several European federations, including England and Italy, have withdrawn their support for Infantino since the collapse of his proposal.

UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and North America’s CONCACAF have called for a change at the head of FIFA and are looking for a credible alternative ahead of elections in March.

Diallo said France’s decision was part of a wider movement within and outside UEFA and that discussions would now focus on governance reform and finding a candidate capable of defeating Infantino.

“It’s not enough to just criticize if you want to move things forward. You also have to make suggestions,” Diallo said.

He added that UEFA will have to define the platform for the next FIFA leadership cycle and, when the time comes, select a candidate for the election.

“Until then, we will have to be ready to present a candidacy capable of winning the FIFA presidency,” Diallo said.

Infantino still has the support of South America’s CONMEBOL and Africa’s CAF.

The FIFA presidential election will be held in Rabat on March 18, 2027, with the deadline for candidacies on November 18.

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

10 Sep 2026 18:24 IST