French FA accuses Infantino of ‘seriously damaging’ football as it withdraws support
The French Football Federation (FFF) has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino's re-election as Fifa president, with its president, Philippe Diallo, accusing him of "seriously" damaging football's "image and unity". The FFF's executive committee voted unanimously to reverse the backing it had formalised in late June, citing events during and after the World Cup, including Infantino's scrapped plan to sell off parts of the tournament and his intervention, following lobbying from Donald Trump, to overturn a suspension imposed on US forward Folarin Balogun. The move makes France the latest major football nation to break with Infantino, following similar withdrawals by England, Wales and threats from Uefa.
Diallo said trust in Infantino had been broken and that scrapping the sell-off plan did not resolve the deeper concerns about unilateral, opaque decision-making. He confirmed France would actively support Uefa's search for an alternative presidential candidate ahead of the 18 November deadline, with the Fifa election due in March. The FFF also plans to consult experts on "transparency and good governance", including Kevin Lamour, the former Fifa chief operating officer sacked after criticising the sell-off plan, as part of its push for "far-reaching reform" of Fifa.
In short
- French FA withdraws backing for Infantino's Fifa presidency re-election bid
- Cites World Cup sell-off plan and Trump-linked Balogun suspension reversal
- France to back Uefa's search for an alternative candidate by 18 November
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The FFF can argue that withdrawing support is a necessary way to defend trust, transparency and unity in football’s governing body. It says that abandoning the tournament sell-off plan did not address concerns about unilateral decision-making, and that the disputed intervention over Balogun’s suspension added to those concerns; backing an alternative candidate could create pressure for meaningful reform.
The case against
Infantino’s supporters could argue that a federation’s withdrawal of support does not, by itself, establish that his leadership has seriously damaged football, and that decisions should be judged on their merits and outcomes. They might see the scrapped sell-off plan as evidence that concerns can be addressed, and regard France’s move to organise support for a rival as a political contest that could deepen divisions rather than strengthen Fifa’s unity.
Explained simply
Fifa is the international body that runs world football and organises the men’s World Cup. Its president, Gianni Infantino, leads the organisation; national football associations, including the French Football Federation (FFF), are among its members. The FFF is led by Philippe Diallo.
Fifa’s president is chosen by a vote of its member associations. The European governing body, Uefa, represents football associations across Europe and can help coordinate their position. Disagreements over how Fifa is run matter because its decisions affect national teams, major tournaments and the way international football is governed.
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