Infantino Contested: Diallo Acknowledges Shortcomings but Stops Short of Breaking with FIFA Chief

FFF president Philippe Diallo offered cautious support to Gianni Infantino on Sunday while acknowledging shortcomings in FIFA governance, following a 2026 World Cup marked by several controversies.

Questioned by L’Équipe, Diallo first discussed his direct exchanges with the FIFA chief, notably during the France-Morocco match (2-0). He said he had alerted Infantino for several months about financial redistribution to participating teams. “I believe sporting merit is not sufficiently valued,” he stated, noting that France had recovered an additional 98 million euros, a sum however divided among 48 teams.

On the most controversial episodes of Infantino’s tenure — the “Peace Prize” awarded to Donald Trump before the tournament, and especially the Folarin Balogun affair, in which FIFA intervened to overturn a red card given to the American striker following a request confirmed by Trump himself — Diallo did not shy away. “There were questions, yes,” he conceded, before adding: “In our sport, we must be careful about credibility, about respect, which must be at the heart of FIFA governance.”

On the question of a French vote in favor of Infantino at the election to lead the body scheduled for 2027, the French official carefully avoided committing. He first downplayed the stakes: “The most likely scenario is that there will be only one candidate.” Then he tempered any idea of European rebellion: “That’s a strong word.” His conclusion sums up the ambiguity of his position: “Not everything is perfect. There are provisions I would not have supported, but overall, we are there.”

In office since 2016, 56-year-old Gianni Infantino is attracting criticism as rarely before. FFF support appears assured, but it comes with reservations that Diallo, this time, did not seek to hide.