The French Football Federation has broken with Gianni Infantino. In a unanimous vote of its executive committee on Thursday, September 10, the FFF withdrew its support for the FIFA president’s bid for a fourth term.

“The trust placed in the FIFA president has been broken,” federation president Philippe Diallo told reporters.

France had backed Infantino on June 29, when he was the sole candidate to succeed himself. The FFF now says the conditions for that support have collapsed after “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.”

A 20 percent stake that never went to market

The break centers on Infantino’s plan to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. That scheme was abandoned in July after opposition from UEFA and other confederations, but the fallout has not receded.

Read also: How Canelo took the centre of the ring back from Golovkin

“The way in which we envisage the running of world football no longer corresponds with the way it is being conducted,” Diallo said.

Diallo said the proposal had emerged without proper consultation of member associations and had, in the FFF’s words, “seriously damaged the image and unity of football.”

England, Italy and Belgium got there first

France is not the first European federation to leave Infantino’s camp. Italy, England, Scotland, Sweden and Belgium had already pulled their support in the weeks before, with Belgium’s move landing on September 7. Hungarian FIFA vice-president Sándor Csányi also broke with the incumbent in August.

UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have all called for change at the top of FIFA. Confederations do not decide how their members vote, however; each of FIFA’s 211 associations casts an individual ballot on election day. Infantino still enjoys public backing from CONMEBOL and CAF.

Read also: Maldini cleared on drugs, but the breathalyzer reading may still cost him an Italy call-up

Infantino is still the only candidate

Rival candidates have until November 18 to formally declare, with the election set for March 18, 2027 at the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco. As of Diallo’s announcement, Infantino remains the only declared candidate.

Diallo signaled France would not be content with opposition alone.

“It is not enough simply to criticise if you want things to move forward. You also have to make proposals.”

“We will need to be ready by then to put forward a candidacy capable of winning the FIFA presidency.”

Read also: 'Proper chaos' at UFC 331: a $50,000 bonus with no rules and one man deciding it

Read also: France walks out as Infantino runs on 'Football belongs to everyone'