Macron Steps Into FIFA Governance Crisis, Backs UEFA Opposition to Infantino’s Commercial Plan

According to French newspaper L’Équipe, French President Emmanuel Macron has personally intervened in FIFA’s governance crisis triggered by the organization’s plan to “sell World Cup commercial rights” and has held multiple rounds of communication with relevant football authorities.

Unlike former UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who publicly called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, Macron has not yet made an official public statement on the crisis. However, sources revealed that Macron has been closely monitoring developments since FIFA’s plan to establish “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE) and sell shares to private investors was exposed. He has reportedly been involved in discussions through phone calls and other channels.

A person close to Macron said: “The president has indeed taken action. This is consistent with his position in 2021 when he opposed the European Super League project, as that initiative also challenged the principles of solidarity and sporting fairness in football.”

FIFA had previously planned to create a commercial subsidiary responsible for managing broadcasting rights, ticketing, sponsorships, and licensing businesses for major events such as the World Cup. The organization intended to sell around 20% of the company’s shares to external investors, with the move expected to raise up to $4.2 billion.

However, after strong opposition from UEFA, FIFA announced in the early hours of August 1 that the plan had been abandoned. Infantino admitted that the proposal had created “serious divisions” and could therefore no longer move forward.

The decision, however, has not eased concerns over Infantino’s leadership style and FIFA’s governance model.

UEFA became the central force behind the opposition. Led by Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA had previously warned that its 55 member associations could boycott future FIFA competitions if Infantino refused to withdraw the proposal. UEFA also publicly criticized the plan as a “hasty, non-transparent project pushed forward behind closed doors,” emphasizing that abandoning the proposal did not mean the issue was resolved.

Against this backdrop, Macron chose to support UEFA’s position and actively participated in coordination efforts. According to L’Équipe, Macron spoke with Čeferin ahead of a UEFA-related meeting, encouraging him to maintain his stance. He also expressed support for French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo, who was among the first presidents of Europe’s 55 football associations to publicly oppose Infantino’s plan.

In addition, Macron held a phone conversation with Infantino last Thursday, conveying the message that global football unity must be preserved and that divisions between continents and football confederations should be avoided. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening international cooperation within football.

Macron reportedly also communicated with CAF president Patrice Motsepe.

Regarding questions over whether France still supports Infantino remaining FIFA president, a person close to Macron responded: “France fully supports Aleksander Čeferin.”

The report states that French authorities are not only questioning the way Infantino promoted the commercial project but also challenging the underlying philosophy behind it. Macron’s camp believes FIFA does not currently lack financial resources and sees no need to introduce private capital.

According to estimates, the 2026 World Cup is expected to generate around $15 billion in revenue, while FIFA currently holds approximately $5 billion in cash reserves. French officials believe these funds should instead be used to support football development in less-developed regions, particularly in Africa.

The next FIFA presidential election will take place in March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Although Infantino has already confirmed that he intends to seek re-election, controversy surrounding his leadership continues to grow.

Macron’s team stated that the French president will continue to closely monitor this “crisis where diplomacy and football intersect” and will not stop following the developments.