The French Football Federation (FFF) has announced its withdrawal of support for Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election as FIFA president, citing a loss of trust and concerns over his leadership. The decision was made by the FFF’s executive committee, which voted unanimously to revoke backing initially granted at the end of June.
FFF president Philippe Diallo stated that Infantino’s actions, particularly surrounding the recent World Cup, have seriously damaged the image and unity of football. Diallo highlighted that during the tournament, several controversial decisions—including the overturned suspension of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun following lobbying from then-president Donald Trump—raised questions about FIFA’s governance and impartiality. FIFA defended the disciplinary reversal as a balanced decision based on established regulations, but the episode contributed to growing unease within the French federation.
The revocation also stemmed from Infantino’s proposal to seek private investors to manage FIFA tournaments, a plan that was revealed in July but subsequently abandoned after widespread criticism. The project faced strong opposition from three continental confederations as well as several European national associations, including those of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, all of which had previously withdrawn their support for Infantino’s presidency bid.
Diallo emphasized that although some positive developments in football occurred under Infantino’s tenure, the manner in which changes were implemented—described as unilateral and opaque—undermined the FFF’s confidence. He framed France’s withdrawal as an assertion of its historical and sporting legitimacy as a founding FIFA member and one of the world’s top-ranked national teams.
“The conditions which led to us to support his candidacy had been disrupted,” Diallo said. “Does the withdrawal of the [sell-off] project solve the issue? I don’t think so. His initiatives during and after the World Cup have seriously damaged the image and unity of football. As a result, we believe that trust has been broken.”
Looking ahead, the FFF intends to take an active role within UEFA’s efforts to identify alternative candidates for the FIFA presidency, with the election scheduled for March during FIFA’s next congress. In preparation, the French federation plans to consult experts in transparency and governance, including former FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who was dismissed after criticizing the sell-off proposal.
Infantino, who remains the sole declared candidate, has faced increasing skepticism across Europe following the controversies of recent months. FIFA has declined immediate comment on the FFF’s decision and related developments.