French football federation withdraws Infantino support, joins European revolt

[p]The FFF is aligning itself with the position of other European federations such as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/hlKvieGH/"]Italy[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/scotland/fZRU25WH/"]Scotland[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]the Netherlands[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wales/YcUP0Nqp/"]Wales[/a], who have also publicly withdrawn support for Infantino.[/p][p]FIFA confirmed last weekend that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-confirms-re-election-bid-for-2027-race/2gY2TGve/"]Infantino will stand in the FIFA presidential election next March[/a], despite the backlash over his now-abandoned 'FIFA Forward Enterprise' plan to bring private investment into the men's and women's World Cups.[/p][p]At this stage, the 56-year-old Swiss is the only candidate. UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF will likely field a rival before November's deadline. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/legia/K6kUepBs/"]Legia Warsaw[/a] owner Dariusz Mioduski, AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom are rumoured to be the candidates under consideration.[/p][embed guid="c0cf59ef-b0f8-4dc5-8533-c447b7bcef59" url="https://x.com/FFF/status/2098014608132853948?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The deadline for candidates to submit their nominations, supported by at least five member associations, is November 18th, 2026, at 23:59 CET.[/p][p][b]"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," [/b]FFF president Philippe Diallo said in a statement.[/p][p][b]"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."[/b][/p][p]Infantino, elected FIFA president in 2016 after replacing the disgraced Sepp Blatter, will stand for re-election at the 77th FIFA Congress in April 2027, to be held in Rabat, Morocco.[/p]