The French Football Federation (FFF) has withdrawn its support for the re-election of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president. Infantino, who is currently set to run unopposed next March, has faced widespread criticism over his failed plans to sell stakes in the World Cup and FIFAs other major tournaments to private investors.Those proposals sparked outrage across the football world, and it emerged last month that European footballs governing body, UEFA, is pursuing a criminal complaint against Infantino.UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and North Americas CONCACAF have all called for change at the top of FIFA and are seeking a credible alternative to Infantino.Englands Football Association and the Italian Football Federation are among the European FIFA members to have withdrawn their backing for Infantino.And on Thursday they were joined by the FFF after its Executive Committee voted unanimously to take that step.A statement from the FFF read: The FFF withdraws its support for Gianni Infantinos re-election and calls for fundamental reform of FIFAs governance. Meeting today in Paris at the request of its President, Philippe Diallo, the Executive Committee of the French Football Federation unanimously decided to withdraw the FFFs support for Gianni Infantino ahead of the FIFA presidential election, which is due to take place on 18 March 2027 in Rabat (Morocco). Whilst support had initially been given to the FIFA President, who was then the sole candidate for his own succession, the conditions for that support are no longer met. A series of events directly involving FIFAs governance and its President, and in direct conflict with the fundamental principles of good governance and the values of football, occurred after the FFF expressed its support on 29 June.FFF: FIFA governance not fixed by failure of Infantinos plansThe FFF made it clear that, while Infantinos FIFA Forward Enterprise plans had not come to fruition, the failure of the proposals does not fix the problems at the top of world footballs governing body.Its statement continued: At the end of July, a plan spearheaded by the FIFA President was revealed, aimed at creating a commercial company incorporating, in particular, the rights to the World Cup and opening up its share capital to external investors. The FFF, through its President, emphasised that a project with such a significant impact on the future of football could not be envisaged without comprehensive information, in-depth consultation and a fully transparent decision-making process. FIFAs governance does not live up to the standards that football represents. Today, whilst this project has been definitively abandoned thanks to a concerted response within UEFA in conjunction with several other confederations, the issue of FIFAs governance cannot be considered resolved. It is against this backdrop where the FIFA Presidents recent initiatives have seriously damaged the image and unity of football that the FFF has decided to withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino ahead of the FIFA presidential election in March 2027. The FFF calls for the development, in consultation with the confederations, national associations and all stakeholders (players, supporters, etc.), of a plan for world football to undertake a far-reaching reform of FIFAs governance and to continue the development of football by combining excellence and solidarity. With this objective in mind, the FFF will, in the coming days, launch a series of consultations with leading French and international figures whose expertise in governance, including beyond the sporting sphere, is widely recognised. The aim of these consultations will be to foster collective reflection and to draw up proposals for a far-reaching transformation of FIFAs governance, with a view to restoring confidence, enhancing transparency and ensuring the independence and exemplary conduct of world footballs governing body. The FFF, a founding member of FIFA, thus intends to contribute to a debate that is vital for the future of football, its regulation and its development. Topics FIFA Gianni Infantino Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read FIFA accuses UEFA of smear campaign against Infantino Cian Cheesbrough 3rd September, 2026 UEFA announces it will ensure credible Infantino alternative as it officially withdraws FIFA competition boycott Nicholas McGee 27th August, 2026 UEFA pursuing criminal complaint against Infantino over failed World Cup sell-off plan Nicholas McGee 27th August, 2026 UEFA set to drop FIFA tournament boycott threat Mitch Fretton 26th August, 2026 UEFA boss Ceferin rules out FIFA Presidency bid despite Infantino criticism Mitch Fretton 24th August, 2026 FAI withdraws support for FIFA President Infantino Mitch Fretton 13th August, 2026
