France is close to withdrawing its support for Infantino

Although the French Football Federation has not yet officially announced its position on the FIFA presidential elections scheduled for next March, indications within the French institution suggest a clear decline in support for current president Gianni Infantino, amid escalating disagreements over the management of the international federation and several recent decisions. It appears that the president of the French Federation, Philippe Diallo, is not inclined, based on current information, to give his vote to Infantino, but prefers not to make a final decision until the list of candidates for the upcoming elections becomes clear, in addition to consulting with members of the French leadership. This comes at a time when the European football scene is witnessing increasing moves to reassess the relationship with the FIFA president, especially after the controversy sparked by the project to involve private sector investors in the World Cup rights, before it was later abandoned. The 55 European federations had taken a unified stance at the end of July, when they threatened not to participate in the 2030 World Cup if the plans related to private investment in the tournament rights proceeded, a position that reflected the extent of the tension between a number of European federations and the FIFA leadership. The electoral landscape remains incomplete, as France, Italy, and Spain have yet to announce their official positions. Other federations have varying stances, ranging from declaring they will not vote for Infantino to demanding his resignation, or withdrawing support without explicitly committing to not voting for him. In this context, Diallo prefers to wait for the French Football Federation's executive committee meeting scheduled for September 8th to discuss the matter with the leadership and adopt a collective position, rather than issuing a decision that appears to be his own. At the end of July, Diallo criticized FIFA's management style, calling for a review of the governance model within the international federation. He cited several controversial issues, including the reversal of Bradley Barcola's red card, the proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, and questionable financial arrangements. The French federation president emphasized that the relationship with FIFA requires greater rigor and accountability, arguing that any new elections should be preceded by increased clarity, democracy, and transparency in the governing mechanisms. Diallo is usually known for his measured stances, but his recent statements have taken a sharper tone towards FIFA's leadership, aligning with the French Football Federation's position during the European meeting that concluded with a threat to boycott the 2030 World Cup if the controversial project proceeds. Diallo is expected to attend the Champions League draw on August 27, where the strained relationship with Infantino could resurface, coinciding with the approaching elections and increasing European pressure on the FIFA president.