France Withdraws Support for Infantino Amid Scandal
The French Football Federation (FFF) has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino. During a meeting on September 10, the executive committee decided to revoke its endorsement of the FIFA president, who is seeking re-election on March 18, 2027.
This marks the end of years of French backing for the Italian-Swiss football leader. In its statement, FFF cites a loss of trust in FIFA's leadership as the reason for its decision, stating that conditions for continued support for Infantino no longer exist.
FFF points to a series of events that contradict the principles of good governance and the values of football. Specifically, the federation refers to the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project presented by Infantino on July 28, which proposed selling a 20% stake in FIFA competitions to private investors for around $4 billion.
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Facing criticism, particularly from FFF President Philippe Diallo, Infantino abandoned this project on August 1. Diallo also criticized the lack of consultations regarding the initiative.
This shift in FFF's position is a significant blow to Infantino and reflects a change in Diallo's approach, who previously prioritized caution and the protection of French interests.
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France has joined several European federations that have also withdrawn support for Infantino, including England and Italy. The Netherlands has gone further, proposing to hold an international summit in Amsterdam to discuss FIFA's future... without Gianni Infantino.
However, France's boycott does not guarantee that Infantino will inevitably lose his position. He still enjoys significant support, particularly from powerful federations in Africa, South America, and Oceania, who are grateful for his investments in global football.
According to FIFA's electoral system, each federation has one vote, and theoretically, Infantino still controls the majority of votes at the upcoming congress. Additionally, no obvious and significant opponent has emerged in the months leading up to the election.
