The climate has never been so tense around Gianni Infantino. Since the revelations about its plan to create FIFA Forward Enterprise, a new structure intended to bring together FIFA’s commercial activities and welcome minority private investors, criticism has been increasing from all sides. UEFA opened hostilities with a statement of rare firmness, considering that “the soul and governance of football are not assets for sale”while several European federations are now talking about retaliatory measures if this reform were to come to an end. The questions concern the future governance of world football as well as the supposed links with certain investors close to Donald Trump or the possibility of seeing financial imperatives gradually take precedence over sporting interests. The French Football Federation also seems to be evolving. Long cautious in its communication towards the president of FIFA, the 3F had nevertheless chosen to maintain its support for Gianni Infantino with a view to the 2027 election. And as revealed a few days ago, Philippe Diallo then favored a logic of continuity and pragmatism, in particular in order to preserve French interests in the perspective of a candidacy to organize the 2038 World Cup. Despite several controversies having already weakened the leader Switzerland, the French Federation until then refused to join the opposition front led by Aleksander Čeferin.
Philippe Diallo’s statements given this Wednesday morning on France Inter However, mark a change in tone that does not go unnoticed. Without officially breaking with FIFA or announcing head-on opposition to Gianni Infantino, the president of the FFF reveals a growing unease in the face of a project which is profoundly shaking world football. The criticism now goes beyond the sporting authorities and also affects several political leaders as well as numerous personalities in European football. For the French Federation, traditionally committed to preserving a constructive dialogue with Zurich, the simple fact of publicly displaying its reservations already constitutes a strong signal. While the FFF had until now distinguished itself by its restraint despite controversies over the governance of FIFA, the expansion of the World Cup, the overload of the international calendar or even the displayed proximity of Gianni Infantino with several political leaders including Donald Trump, the FIFA Forward Enterprise affair seems to open a new sequence. The comments made by Philippe Diallo now reflect a real doubt within the Blue House, proof that the FIFA president sees his base of support weakening even among allies who, just a few days ago, prioritized institutional stability above all.
Diallo has real doubts
Guest of the Morning, the president of the FFF did not hide his concern regarding this new project by Gianni Infantino which continues to cause a lot of ink to flow in the four corners of Europe. “We discovered through a press release a very important project on which we have no details and which, in relation to its orientation, that is to say bringing in investment funds within the framework of a commercial company alongside FIFA, raises many questions, without the members that we are, the federations, having been able to be associated and have any particular element to decide on subjects which are obviously fundamental. As of today, I will be in contact with my main colleagues from the major European federations, with the president of UEFA, to find out how we should approach his projects on which we have no specific information.», Confided the French leader. As a reminder, the Belgian, Swiss and Norwegian Federations have already addressed the Italian-Swiss leader during the 2026 World Cup in the United States. A World Cup which has also raised many questions in the mind of Philippe Diallo.
“First of all, the World Cup was a great popular success, it was said that the United States was not a football country but all the stadiums were full. We have never had so many people in the stadiums. Tickets were expensive but the stadiums were full. The audiences in France here were fantastic and the feeling around the French team was great. We exploded the figures that we had planned in terms of audience. This World Cup has raised questions about the game. I am not a fan of cooling breaks because it changes the nature of the game. There are things that will have to be discussed and returned to with more transparent decision-making processes with nations like France who must be more involved. We discover too many decisions that were taken without our being involved in them without being able to truly give our opinion on these directions. Having known Gianni Infantino for a very long time, I told him of the need for a more demanding relationship in terms of decision-making processes and orientations on football.“, he concluded. The tide is turning around Gianni Infantino and even the most cautious supporters are now starting to distance themselves…
