France wants to transform Fifa after withdrawing Infantino support

What the report says

France’s football federation has said it wants to explore wider changes to how FIFA is governed after withdrawing its backing for Gianni Infantino’s presidency. The move, reported by BBC Sport Football, makes the French Football Federation the latest national association to pull support over Infantino’s abandoned plan to open up stakes in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

The federation had previously supported Infantino in June, before the investment proposal became public. Its president, Philippe Diallo, argued that a decision with such long-term impact on football should have involved fuller consultation and more transparent process. The FFF also said FIFA’s governance still does not meet the standards the sport should represent.

Although Infantino has dropped the investment idea, the French federation said the issue is not resolved. It plans consultations with confederations, national associations, players, supporters and governance specialists to develop proposals for broader reform.

The report places France alongside England, Italy, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland in withdrawing support. It also notes the wider split in world football, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf calling for Infantino to step down, while South America’s Conmebol and Africa’s CAF continue to back him. FIFA has confirmed he will stand for a fourth presidential term in March.