France dumps Infantino — joins European revolt against FIFA boss
France will not back Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president in March 2027, the French Football Federation said on Thursday, lining up with Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales.
FIFA confirmed last weekend that the 56-year-old Swiss official will stand again. He is so far the only declared candidate, though CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is widely tipped to challenge him.
The split follows Infantino’s now-abandoned plan to let private investors buy into a company running the men’s and women’s World Cups.
UEFA threatened a boycott, later paused that threat, called on him to resign and has prepared possible legal action over alleged “criminal mismanagement.”
FFF president Philippe Diallo said the federation’s members had voted unanimously.
“We believe that the trust placed in the FIFA president has been betrayed,” said Diallo as quoted by AFP. “And that the way in which the governance of world football is envisaged no longer reflects us.”
France, he added, has “historic legitimacy as one of the founding nations of FIFA” and “sporting legitimacy, having been in the top three in the FIFA rankings for the last 10 years.”
Infantino has held the job since 2016. He still has heavyweight backing: Saudi Arabia, hosts of the 2034 World Cup, plus CAF and CONMEBOL.
The FFF will now consult before deciding who to support at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco.
