09/10/26 09:26:00
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09/10 07:30 CDT French soccer federation withdraws support for Infantino's FIFA
re-election bid
French soccer federation withdraws support for Infantino's FIFA re-election bid
PARIS (AP) --- The French Football Federation withdrew its support for Gianni
Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president on Thursday after his
controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
The FFF said the executive committee decision was unanimous.
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March.
"Whilst support had initially been given to the FIFA president, who was then
the sole candidate for his own succession, the conditions for that support are
no longer met," the FFF said.
"A series of events directly involving FIFA's governance and its president, and
in direct conflict with the fundamental principles of good governance and the
values of football, occurred after the FFF expressed its support on June 29."
The French cited Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private
equity for $4.2 billion. FIFA withdrew the proposal on Aug. 1, just days after
it was made public, following intense pushback.
"Today, whilst this project has been definitively abandoned thanks to a
concerted response within UEFA in conjunction with several other
confederations, the issue of FIFA's governance cannot be considered resolved,"
the FFF insisted. It added Infantino's recent initiatives have "seriously
damaged the image and unity of football."
UEFA has led the calls for Infantino to go, saying it lost confidence in him
and previously threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup.
Several national associations, including England, have withdrawn support for
Infantino's re-election.
FIFA said on Sunday that Infantino plans to stand again in next year's
elections for a final term in office through 2031.
The FFF called for a far-reaching reform of FIFA's governance and said it will
launch consultations with leading French and international figures.
"The aim of these consultations," it said, "will be to foster collective
reflection and to draw up proposals for a far-reaching transformation of FIFA's
governance, with a view to restoring confidence, enhancing transparency and
ensuring the independence and exemplary conduct of world football's governing
body."
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