French Revolt: FFF Withdraws Backing for Infantino, Accusing FIFA Boss of Damaging Football's Soul

A political earthquake has rocked world football's governing body, as France became the latest major power to turn its back on FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of his re-election bid, according to Guardian Football. The French Football Federation's executive committee delivered a unanimous verdict on Thursday, formally withdrawing the backing it had only confirmed at the end of June. The decision marks a stunning collapse in relations between one of Europe's footballing superpowers and the man who has led FIFA since 2016. FFF president Philippe Diallo did not mince his words when explaining the federation's dramatic U-turn, accusing Infantino of having 'seriously damaged the image and the unity of football.' It was a pointed indictment from one of the game's most influential administrators. Diallo pointed to what he described as 'events during the World Cup' that had 'flagrantly gone against the way we believe our sport should be run' — a stinging rebuke that suggests deep unhappiness with how football's showpiece tournament was handled. Perhaps most damaging of all was the controversy surrounding Infantino's audacious World Cup sell-off plan. Revealed in July, the proposal triggered a firestorm of criticism from across the football world and was hastily scrapped following widespread backlash. But for the French federation, the damage had already been done. In a further sign of the deepening rift, the FFF confirmed it will consult Kevin Lamour, the former FIFA official who was sacked by the organisation — a move that signals France is preparing to build alliances with other disillusioned federations and figures from within football's establishment who have fallen out with the Infantino regime. The timing could hardly be more significant. With Infantino seeking re-election, losing the support of France — a nation that has won the World Cup twice in the past quarter-century and wields considerable influence within UEFA — represents a serious blow to his campaign momentum. What began as a quiet deterioration in relations has now exploded into open warfare. The unanimous nature of the FFF's vote leaves no room for ambiguity: this was not a fractured or hesitant decision, but a unified declaration of no confidence from French football's governing hierarchy. As the power struggle intensifies, all eyes will now turn to whether other major federations follow France's lead. Infantino has weathered numerous storms during his tenure, but the combination of World Cup controversies, the abandoned sell-off scheme, and now open rebellion from France suggests the ground beneath him may be shifting. For football fans worldwide, the spectacle of the sport's governance descending into open conflict is an unwelcome distraction — but one that could ultimately reshape the leadership of the global game for years to come. This article is based on reporting by Guardian Football.