France Withdraws Support for Infantino Re-election Bid

The French Football Federation has unanimously withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president, becoming the latest major European federation to break with the incumbent ahead of the March 2027 election. The FFF's executive committee voted on Thursday, September 10, 2026, reversing the backing it had formally given Infantino on June 29, when he was the only declared candidate. FFF President Philippe Diallo said trust in the FIFA president had been broken. He cited Infantino's abandoned plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors, saying a project of such significance could not be envisaged without comprehensive information, in-depth consultation and a transparent decision-making process. According to the FFF's statement, Infantino's recent initiatives had seriously damaged the image and unity of football, and while the investment plan had been definitively abandoned, the issue of FIFA's governance could not be considered resolved. The plan, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, would have sold a 20 percent stake in FIFA's commercial rights for a potential $4.2 billion.