The French Football Federation (FFF) joins England, Italy and other European associations in withdrawing backing for Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid.
The French Football Federation (FFF) withdrew its support for Gianni Infantino‘s re-election as FIFA president on Thursday, its executive committee voting unanimously to drop the backing France gave him in June.
FFF president Philippe Diallo announced the decision after the committee met in Paris. “The conditions for our support for his candidacy were no longer there,” Diallo said.
He said France’s move formed part of a wider position within UEFA, aligning France with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
France backed Infantino in late June, when he was the only declared candidate for the March 2027 election. Diallo said the reasons for that support were overturned from July, after Infantino proposed selling stakes in a company that would manage the commercial rights to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.
FIFA commercial sell-off triggered split
Infantino abandoned the plan after three continental confederations opposed it, and UEFA threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions. Diallo said the proposed stake sale emerged without proper consultation with federations and raised questions over FIFA’s governance and decision-making.
The vehicle would have sold stakes in the entity holding the commercial rights to FIFA’s tournaments, the organisation’s main income source.
FIFA generated a record $7.57bn (USD) over the 2019-2022 cycle, most of it from World Cup broadcast and marketing rights, and has budgeted up to $13bn (USD) for the 2023-2026 cycle built around the 48-team World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA’s commercial partners include Adidas, Coca-Cola, Hyundai-Kia and Visa.
England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy withdrew their backing before France. Around ten European associations have now dropped their support, with others expected to follow in the coming weeks.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf have called for Infantino to step down and are seeking an alternative candidate ahead of the vote. Infantino keeps the backing of South America’s CONMEBOL and Africa’s CAF.
FFF pushes governance reform
The FFF said FIFA’s governance “cannot be considered resolved” despite Infantino dropping the plan. The federation pledged to open consultations with confederations, national associations, players, supporters and governance experts on reforming the organisation.
The consultations aim to produce proposals for what the FFF called “a far-reaching transformation of Fifa’s governance, with a view to restoring confidence, enhancing transparency and ensuring the independence and exemplary conduct of world football’s governing body”.
Diallo said France holds “a historical right to intervene” as one of FIFA’s founding members, and a sporting right as a top-three nation in the FIFA rankings over the past decade. He said a framework for France’s contribution would be set at the next UEFA executive committee meeting.
Vote set for March in Rabat
FIFA’s 211 member associations will elect the president on 18 March 2027 at a congress in Rabat, Morocco. Each association holds one vote. The deadline for submitting candidates is 18 November 2026.
Infantino remains the only declared candidate. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed last Sunday that his intention to stand had not changed despite weeks of pressure. UEFA has pledged to present what it called a “credible” alternative for member associations to consider.
