After withdrawing its support for current FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the French Football Federation (FFF) plans to participate in the search for his successor.
“My colleagues on the executive committee and I believe that the trust placed in Gianni Infantino has been lost. The way football is currently being managed does not align with our vision. We have decided to launch a series of consultations to contribute to UEFA discussions with a legitimate project capable of uniting people. A candidate to represent our interests in the upcoming election will be identified at the appropriate time,” said FFF President Philippe Diallo, as quoted by FootMercato.
The FFF now intends to consult with French and international sports management experts to develop an alternative proposal and rally support around a candidate who would run against Infantino. The federation plans to consult with Kevin Lamour, who was dismissed from FIFA this summer after criticizing Infantino.
Infantino had proposed creating a commercial entity called “FIFA Forward Enterprise” and selling up to a 20 percent stake to private investors; this entity would have controlled the commercial rights to the World Cup. The initiative was rejected by UEFA, CONCACAF, the AFC, and CONMEBOL, among others. Following sharp criticism, Infantino abandoned the project.
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027.
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