France withdraws support for Infantino’s FIFA presidency bid

France will not support Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president, the French Football Federation (FFF) has announced.

The FFF said its decision was unanimous and aligns with several other European football associations that have withdrawn their backing for Infantino ahead of the FIFA presidential election in March 2027.

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Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales are among the European federations that have also publicly distanced themselves from the 56-year-old Swiss.

Infantino confirmed last weekend that he would seek re-election, despite criticism surrounding his now-abandoned proposal to bring private investment into the men’s and women’s World Cups.

He is currently the only declared candidate for the presidency.

FFF president Philippe Diallo said the federation no longer had confidence in Infantino’s leadership and the direction of FIFA’s governance.

“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 disclosed in a statement.

“That is why, by a unanimous decision of its members, the French Football Federation has decided to withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for the FIFA presidency.”

Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and was re-elected unopposed in 2023. His latest bid for another term has faced growing opposition from several European federations following disagreements over FIFA’s proposed commercial and investment plans.