FIFA Presidency: France Withdraws Support for Gianni Infantino’s Re-Election Bid

France has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as president of the world football governing body, FIFA.

The French Football Federation (FFF) announced the decision on Thursday, saying it no longer had confidence in Infantino’s approach to the governance of world football.

The FFF said it was joining several other European football federations, including Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales, which have also publicly withdrawn their support for the Swiss administrator.

FIFA confirmed last weekend that Infantino would seek re-election at the presidential vote scheduled for March 2027.

His candidacy has faced growing opposition following the controversy surrounding his now-abandoned proposal to bring private investment into the men’s and women’s World Cups.

FFF president Philippe Diallo said the federation believed the trust placed in Infantino had been undermined by his approach to football 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 said.

He added that the decision to withdraw support was reached unanimously by members of the French federation.

“At this stage, the 56-year-old Swiss is the only candidate” for the FIFA presidency, although the election process remains open to other potential candidates.

Infantino, who has served as FIFA president since 2016, is seeking a new term amid increasing scrutiny from European football authorities over his leadership and proposed reforms.