France withdraws support for Infantino’s FIFA re-election bid

France has withdrawn its backing for Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president, joining a growing list of European football associations distancing themselves from the Swiss administrator ahead of the 2027 election.

The French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Thursday that it would no longer support Infantino’s candidacy for the FIFA presidency, citing concerns over the direction of football’s global governing body under his leadership.

The decision aligns France with several other European federations, including Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales, which have also publicly declared they will not support Infantino’s re-election campaign.

FIFA confirmed last weekend that the 56-year-old will seek a fresh mandate at the presidential election scheduled for March 2027, despite criticism over his abandoned proposal to introduce private investment into the men’s and women’s World Cups.

Infantino is currently the only declared candidate for the election.

Announcing the federation’s position, FFF President Philippe Diallo said the confidence previously placed in Infantino had been eroded.

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“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 said in a statement.

He added that the federation’s executive members unanimously agreed to withdraw their support for Infantino’s candidacy.

“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,” he said.