French Football Federation turns against Infantino, joins European opposition to his re-election

The French Football Federation has officially switched to the camp of those opposed to Gianni Infantino. Its executive committee validated this Thursday morning the decision not to support the re-election of the FIFA president at the electoral congress set for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.

This reversal is all the more striking as the FFF had, just a few months ago, signed a letter of support for Infantino ahead of this same vote. The controversy surrounding the red card given to Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup in North America, followed by the announcement — ultimately abandoned — of a World Cup privatization project, have profoundly altered the balance of power within European federations.

Philippe Diallo, president of the FFF and member of UEFA’s executive committee, had no longer hidden for several months, in private, his desire to distance himself from the Italian-Swiss leader. He was nevertheless waiting for a collegial decision from his governing body before making France’s position official.

By aligning with the line defended by UEFA and its president Aleksander Ceferin, France now joins around ten European countries — including England and Italy — which have already publicly announced their opposition to Infantino. The continental revolt against the head of the world governing body is thus gaining further momentum less than two months before the Rabat congress.