France turns on Infantino as UEFA escalates FIFA legal fight
France has withdrawn support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president while UEFA has escalated its legal challenge over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, increasing governance pressure on the incumbent ahead of the March 2027 vote.
The French Football Federation has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president, adding another major European federation to the opposition building around his leadership.The decision was taken unanimously by the FFF executive committee and follows the collapse of FIFA Forward Enterprise, the proposed sale of a 20% stake in FIFA competitions and commercial rights to private investors.FFF president Philippe Diallo said: “The trust placed in the FIFA president has been broken. The way in which we envisage the running of world football no longer corresponds with the way it is being conducted.“The conditions for our support for his candidacy were no longer there.”France had backed Infantino in June, when he was the only declared candidate, but reversed its position after concerns over governance and consultation around the proposed investment transaction.The French decision follows opposition from several other European associations, including England, Italy, Belgium, Scotland and Sweden, increasing pressure on UEFA to identify a credible alternative before nominations close on November 18.At the same time, UEFA has intensified its legal efforts to obtain information about FIFA Forward Enterprise in the United States.UEFA has asked a Manhattan federal court to reject an attempt by FIFA (Americas) and FWC2026 US to intervene in its application seeking documents and testimony from Thrive Capital and founder Joshua Kushner.The evidence could be used in a potential Swiss criminal complaint alleging criminal mismanagement by Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials over the aborted transaction. Infantino and FIFA have not been charged with wrongdoing and have denied misconduct.UEFA argues that FIFA’s US subsidiaries have no direct legal interest in the proceedings and are effectively attempting to represent FIFA and Infantino without either formally joining the case.FIFA has accused UEFA of conducting a “smear campaign” and described the discovery effort as a fishing expedition aimed at damaging the governing body and its leadership.The dispute centres on a proposal that could have raised up to US$4.2bn by selling investors a permanent stake in commercial and operational rights linked to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.Infantino abandoned the plan on August 1 after opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF.Despite the growing European resistance, Infantino retains significant support from Africa, South America and smaller national associations, leaving opponents with limited time to identify a challenger capable of winning the March 18 election in Rabat.