Infantino World Cup investment plan ‘worrying and unclear’, says French FA president Diallo

Philippe Diallo has accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of pursuing a “worrying” and opaque plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investment funds, warning it raises serious doubts over the competition’s future and global football governance.

The president of the Federation Francaise de Football (FFF) told French newspaper L’Equipe that, like the rest of the football world, he had learned of Infantino’s proposal only through media reports, after details were revealed by The Times, and that the French federation had received no prior briefing from FIFA.

Asked for his reaction to the project, Diallo said: “هو مشروع مقلق ويثير الكثير من التساولات. اكتشفناه عبر الصحافة، دون ان نحصل على اي معلومات. لا نعرف فلسفته، ولا ضرورته، ولا التركيبة المالية، ولا مصادر تمويله. هذا المشروع مقلق لانه يفتقر الى التفاصيل، وهو يمس احد الاصول الاساسية لكرة القدم، وهي كاس العالم، اكبر مسابقة رياضية في العالم”.

Diallo stressed that in his view the World Cup, as the sport’s most important asset, should not be subject to major structural changes without full clarity, justification and consultation.

Concerns over FIFA governance

Diallo linked his misgivings over the investment proposal to broader concerns around FIFA’s recent decision‐making and governance standards under Infantino.

He said: “بالتاكيد، هو مصدر قلق. سبق ان تدخلت بشان شروط توزيع عايدات كاس العالم على المنتخبات، لانني كنت اجدها غير عادلة الى حد ما. هذا المشروع، لا نعرف من اين جاء. وهناك احداث مختلفة، مثل الغاء البطاقة الحمراء لبالوجون (بطلب من دونالد ترامب)، ومشروع الانتقال الى 64 منتخبا بعد 48، او بعض التراكيب المالية، وهو ما يتطلب اعادة النظر في هذه الحوكمة، التي ليست على مستوى ما تمثله كرة القدم”.

In those remarks, Diallo referred to what he considers a lack of transparency around World Cup revenue distribution, the controversial episode involving the cancellation of a red card for Balogun after an intervention attributed to former US president Donald Trump, and FIFA’s shifting expansion plans for future World Cups – first to 48 teams, then to 64 – as examples feeding his doubts over how the game is being run.

The FFF president argued that these issues, taken together with the new investment proposal, point to a need for a fundamental review of how football’s global governing body operates.

2027 FIFA election and Infantino’s position

Infantino is currently set to stand unopposed for re‐election as FIFA president in March 2027, with a large majority of national associations already signalling they intend to back him for another term.

Diallo acknowledged this alignment behind the incumbent, saying: “افريقيا واسيا اعلنتا بالفعل انهما ستصوتان مجددا لانفانتينو، نعم. يجب علينا بناء علاقة صارمة مع الفيفا، ونحن لسنا عند هذا المستوى حاليا. هناك ايضا تساولات ومساءلة. ودول اخرى تجري نفس التاملات التي اجريها انا”.

He insisted, however, that the FFF wants a more “rigorous” relationship with FIFA and underlined that other associations share similar questions about the direction being taken by world football’s governing body.

Pressed on whether France would support Infantino in 2027, Diallo replied: “لا يمكن ان تكون هناك انتخابات جديدة دون مزيد من التوضيح والديمقراطية والشفافية”.

That stance suggests the FFF will make its decision conditional on reforms or clearer explanations from FIFA in the coming years, particularly regarding governance, financial structures and how major projects such as the World Cup investment plan are developed and presented.

Europe ‘not against the rest of the world’

Diallo rejected the notion that European criticism of Infantino’s project amounts to a political split between UEFA nations and other confederations.

He pointed out that concerns are not confined to Europe, saying: “اتحاد كونكاكاف يتساءل ايضا عن هذا المشروع الجديد. هناك مطلب جديد يظهر. اوروبا لها شرعية في التعبير عن صوتها. 6 من اصل 8 فرق في ربع النهايي كانت اوروبية في كاس العالم الاخيرة (و3 من اصل 4 في نصف النهايي: اسبانيا وفرنسا وانجلترا). يمكنها التعبير عن قيمها، حتى لو لم تشاركها كل الاتحادات الاخرى”.

By citing the performance of European sides at the last World Cup – with six of the eight quarter-finalists and three of the four semi‐finalists (Spain, France and England) coming from Europe – Diallo argued that UEFA nations have both legitimacy and responsibility to speak out on how the sport’s flagship competition is managed.

He maintained, however, that criticism from Europe should not be read as hostility towards other regions, but as part of a wider push from multiple confederations and associations for greater transparency and accountability in decisions that affect the global game.