The French Football Federation has officially withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid, marking a major fracture in European football governance ahead of the March 2027 election.
The FFF executive committee reached a unanimous decision on Thursday to rescind its endorsement of the 56-year-old Swiss administrator. The move follows an executive meeting where officials cited an irreparable breakdown in trust and deep concerns over the administrative direction of world football's governing body.
FFF President Philippe Diallo condemned the current FIFA administration following the decision. "We believe that the trust placed in the FIFA president has been betrayed, and that the way in which the governance of world football is envisaged no longer reflects us," Diallo stated.
Discontent among European federations escalated dramatically following Infantino’s controversial proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA World Cup commercial rights to private investors. Although Infantino abandoned the plan after intense pushback from regional confederations, the FFF noted that fundamental governance issues remain unresolved.
In an official statement, the FFF emphasised that the FIFA president's recent initiatives have severely damaged the unity and global image of the sport. The federation added that FIFA's operational standards do not live up to the principles that football represents.
By revoking its endorsement, France aligns itself with a growing coalition of European national associations—including England, Italy, Belgium, Scotland, Sweden, and Wales—that have publicly turned against Infantino. UEFA is currently working alongside other regional confederations to evaluate alternative candidates before the official November 18 nomination deadline.
Infantino currently remains the sole formally declared candidate for the presidential vote, which is scheduled to take place on March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco. Despite losing key European allies, Infantino continues to maintain strong backing from the South American and African confederations.
