The French Football Federation announced Thursday that it would no longer support Gianni Infantino’s bid for reelection as president of FIFA, reversing a position it had taken just weeks earlier.

FFF President Philippe Diallo said the federation’s executive committee unanimously approved the decision after concerns grew over Infantino’s leadership and a now-abandoned proposal to create a commercial company that would sell part of FIFA’s tournament rights to private investors. Diallo said the project raised serious questions about transparency and consultation with FIFA’s member associations.

“We discovered it through the press,” Diallo said of the proposal, arguing that a major initiative involving FIFA’s commercial rights should not have been developed without first consulting its members. He also questioned why FIFA needed to raise additional funds given the organization’s financial position following the 2026 World Cup.

Diallo said the concerns extended beyond the abandoned commercial proposal. He pointed to other incidents during the 2026 World Cup that he said raised questions about fairness, adherence to FIFA’s rules and the way the sport’s governing body is being managed.

“Today, with the initiatives he has taken, he has become a factor of division and has seriously harmed the image of football and its unity,” Diallo said.

The French federation had previously backed Infantino in June, when he was the only declared candidate. Diallo said that support was given before the federation became aware of the commercial proposal and that the circumstances surrounding the endorsement subsequently changed.

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seeking another term in the March 18, 2027, presidential election in Rabat, Morocco. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 18, 2026. France’s decision follows similar opposition from several European football associations, while Infantino continues to receive support from other regions.

The FFF has not endorsed an alternative candidate. Diallo said France would instead consult governance experts and work toward developing an alternative vision for FIFA before deciding who could best represent it in the election.