The French Football Federation (FFF) has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino's bid for re-election as FIFA president, joining a growing number of European federations that have turned against the embattled football chief.
The decision was taken unanimously by the FFF's executive committee on Thursday, FFF President Philippe Diallo announced.
"The trust placed in the FIFA president has been broken," Diallo told reporters. "The way in which we envisage the running of world football no longer corresponds with the way it is being conducted."
Infantino has faced mounting criticism since his failed proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The plan was abandoned in July following widespread opposition from football's regional confederations.
Diallo said France had initially backed Infantino's candidacy at the end of June, when he was the only declared candidate, but that subsequent events had fundamentally changed the circumstances.
"The conditions for our support for his candidacy were no longer there," he said.
The FFF president added that the proposed stake sale had emerged without proper consultation or information being provided to member federations, raising serious questions over FIFA's governance and decision-making.
The French federation now aligns itself with several other European associations that have already withdrawn their backing for Infantino, including those of Belgium, England, Italy, Scotland, and Sweden.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and North America's CONCACAF have called for change at the top of FIFA and are seeking a credible alternative ahead of the March election.
Diallo said France's decision formed part of a broader movement within UEFA and beyond, and that discussions would now focus on governance reform and finding a candidate capable of defeating Infantino.
"It is not enough simply to criticise if you want things to move forward. You also have to make proposals," Diallo said.
He added that UEFA would need to define a platform for the next FIFA leadership cycle and, when the time came, unite behind a single candidate.
"We will need to be ready by then to put forward a candidacy capable of winning the FIFA presidency," Diallo said.
Infantino retains the support of South America's CONMEBOL and Africa's CAF.
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place in Rabat on March 18, 2027. The deadline for candidacies is November 18.
