The French Football Federation (FFF) has officially announced its decision to withdraw support for Gianni Infantino, who is seeking re-election as FIFA president in March 2027. This announcement, made on Thursday, aligns France with other European football federations, including Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden, and Wales, all of whom have publicly expressed their lack of support for Infantino.
Infantino, who has served as FIFA president since 2016, is currently the only candidate for the upcoming election. Despite this, there is speculation regarding a potential challenge from Victor Montagliani, the president of CONCACAF. The FFF's announcement comes on the heels of a tumultuous period for Infantino, particularly following the backlash against his now-abandoned proposal to introduce private investment into both the men's and women's World Cups.
In a statement, FFF president Philippe Diallo conveyed the federation's sentiments, stating, "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." This sentiment underscores a growing discontent among several European nations regarding Infantino's leadership and governance style.
Diallo emphasized France's historical significance as one of FIFA's founding nations, asserting its right to voice concerns when it feels the organization is veering off course. He noted, "It also has sporting legitimacy, having been in the top three in the FIFA rankings for the last 10 years." This assertion of legitimacy highlights France's influential role in international football.
Infantino's presidency has faced increasing scrutiny, particularly after his controversial proposal in late July to establish a commercial subsidiary under the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative. This plan aimed to allow private investors to acquire stakes in key FIFA events, including the World Cup and Club World Cup. The backlash was swift, leading to the proposal being quickly shelved and prompting UEFA to threaten a boycott of FIFA competitions. Although UEFA later suspended this threat, it has continued to call for Infantino's resignation and is reportedly preparing legal action against him for alleged "criminal mismanagement."
As the election approaches, the FFF has indicated that it will initiate a consultation process to determine its next steps and potential candidates to support against Infantino. Montagliani, once considered a close ally of Infantino, has shown signs of distancing himself from the incumbent president amid the fallout from the investment proposal.
While Infantino's support appears to be waning among European federations, he still retains backing from some quarters, including Saudi Arabia, which is set to host the 2034 World Cup. Additionally, the African football governing body CAF and South America's CONMEBOL have also expressed their support for Infantino, highlighting the divided opinions within the global football community regarding his leadership.
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