The political fallout from FIFA’s abandoned plan to create a private investment vehicle has reached the highest levels of the French government. President Emmanuel Macron has been actively lobbying behind the scenes against the proposal, which was spearheaded by FIFA President Gianni Infantino before being scrapped last week.
A Controversial Proposal Rejected
The Swiss-Italian football administrator had sought to establish a commercial entity that would have opened the sport’s most lucrative assets—including the World Cup—to private investors. The proposal triggered widespread condemnation across the global football community, forcing Infantino into a swift retreat.
The episode has galvanized his critics, including UK political leaders who have publicly called for his resignation. While President Macron has remained silent publicly, sources confirm he has been working diligently behind the scenes to shape the outcome.
France’s Stance on Football’s Integrity
According to reports from L’Équipe, which have been independently confirmed, the French head of state has made numerous phone calls—including direct contact with Infantino himself—to stress the importance of maintaining unity within world football. An Élysée official told Le Parisien on Monday morning: “He defends the unity of global football and a certain of sport and play that must not be subjected to purely commercial logic.”
Full Support for UEFA’s Ceferin
This intervention mirrors Macron’s previous opposition to the European Super League project in 2021 The French president is now aligning firmly with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who has been engaged in a long-running power struggle with Infantino.
“France fully supports Aleksander Ceferin,” a close associate of the president stated to L’Équipe. The Slovenian administrator, who has led European football’s governing body since 2016, intensified his offensive against FIFA’s leadership following the failed commercial venture. UEFA issued a scathing statement over the weekend, asserting that Infantino had “lost the trust” of the organization by pursuing what it labeled “an opaque and shabby project.”
Looking Toward 2027
With FIFA’s elective congress scheduled for March 2027, the French position will be closely scrutinized. Infantino is expected to seek another term but faces mounting opposition. The Élysée has indicated it will continue monitoring the situation with considerable attention, making France a potentially decisive player in the coming power struggle at the heart of world football’s governing body.
