French Football Federation

{{main|Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques}}

Before the FFF was established, football, rugby union and others sports in France were regulated by the {{lang|fr|Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques}} (USFSA). Founded in November 1890, the USFSA was initially headquartered in Paris but its membership soon expanded to include sports clubs from throughout France.The Official History of the Olympic Games and the IOC- Athens to Beijing, 1894–2008: David Miller (2008){{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/franchamp.html |title=rsssf.org |website=RSSSF |access-date=28 April 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1992/ore301/ORE301p.pdf |format=PDF|title=This Great Symbol |access-date=18 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528014548/http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1992/ore301/ORE301p.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}

In 1894, the USFSA also organised the first recognised French football championship.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/history/AssociationWeeks/Association=43/newsid=154563.html |title=UEFA |access-date=2019-08-25 |archive-date=2020-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111053732/https://www.uefa.com/uefa/history/AssociationWeeks/Association=43/newsid=154563.html |url-status=dead }} The first competition featured just four Paris teams and was organised on a knockout basis.Football in France, a statistical record 1894–2003: Alex Graham (2004)

In 1900, the USFSA sent players from Parisian Club Français to represent France at the 1900 Summer Olympics.[https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1900f.html Games of the II. Olympiad – Football Tournament] by Søren Elbech and Karel Stokkermans on the RSSSFThe Complete Results & Line-ups of the Olympic Football Tournaments 1900–2004: Colin Jose (2004) On 1 May 1904 the USFSA also selected the first official France national football team. The USFSA would be dissolved in 1919 after some disagreements with FIFA.

The Fédération Française de Football was formed on 7 April 1919 following the transformation of the Comité Français Interfédéral (CFI) into the Fédération Française de Football Association (FFFA). The CFI were seen as a rival organization to the {{Lang|fr|Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques|italic=no}} (USFSA) due to the organization's constantly disagreeing with each other, mainly due to the latter's opposition to professionalism in sport. Following the debacle at the 1908 Summer Olympics, in which France sent two teams, one controlled by the USFSA and another by FIFA, the CFI ruled that FIFA would now be responsible for the club's appearances in forthcoming Olympic Games and not the USFSA. Being a founding member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the USFSA disagreed with the ruling and, despite having three years to reach an agreement, the CFI and the USFSA failed to, which led to France not sending a football team to the 1912 Summer Olympics. The USFSA later developed friction with FIFA and the IOC, which led to disorganization and in 1913, became semi-affiliated with the CFI.

On 7 April 1919 the CFI transformed themselves into the Fédération Française de Football with Jules Rimet being installed as the federation's first president. Its legal status is placed under the French Association loi de 1901 jurisdiction (Voluntary association). The FFF has been affiliated to FIFA since 1907, when the CFI succeeded the USFSA as France's representative. Two years later after the CFI's transformation, the USFSA officially merged with the federation.

On 28 June 2010, the federation's current president, Jean-Pierre Escalettes, announced his resignation from his position effective 23 July.{{cite news |title=Escalettes démissionne! |url=http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/breves2010/20100628_160814_escalettes-demissionne.html |work=France Football |date=28 June 2010 |access-date=28 June 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629220949/http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/breves2010/20100628_160814_escalettes-demissionne.html |archive-date=29 June 2010 }} On 23 July, Fernand Duchaussoy was installed as the federation's interim president and, on 18 December, the title was removed making him the federation's 11th president in its history.{{cite news |title=Fernand Duchaussoy élu |url=http://www.fff.fr/presentationfff/actualite/535959.shtml |work=French Football Federation |date=18 December 2010 |access-date=19 December 2010}} On 18 June 2011, following as election, Nöel Le Graët was named as the federation's 12th president.{{cite news |title=Nöel Le Graët élu Président |url=http://www.fff.fr/presentationfff/actualite/538055.shtml |work=French Football Federation |date=18 June 2011 |access-date=18 June 2011 |archive-date=21 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621063837/http://www.fff.fr/presentationfff/actualite/538055.shtml |url-status=dead }}

The FFF announced to file a complaint with FIFA over racist and discriminatory remarks made by Argentina players in post-match chants after their Copa América win. The incident involved Enzo Fernández, who posted a video where players appeared to sing about French players of African heritage. Wesley Fofana condemned the video as "uninhibited racism." Philippe Diallo condemned the remarks and planned to contact Argentina's football federation and FIFA. Gianni Infantino had previously committed to a zero tolerance approach to racism.{{cite news|title=French federation files complaint after ‘racist and discriminatory remarks’ by Argentina players |date=16 July 2024 |url=https://apnews.com/article/argentina-song-french-complaint-copa-america-ef250939aa10f60f3a821d54f54e0d83 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717222545/https://apnews.com/article/argentina-song-french-complaint-copa-america-ef250939aa10f60f3a821d54f54e0d83 |archive-date=17 July 2024 |access-date=18 July 2024}}

The French Football Federation describes itself in these four roles:

• To organize, develop, and monitor the teachings and practices of football in all its forms on the mainland and in the overseas regions and territories.
• To create and maintain a link between its individual members, affiliated clubs, and their respective districts and regional leagues of the Ligue du Football Amateur (LFA) and the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).
• To defend the moral and material interests of French football.
• To maintain all appropriate relations with foreign associations affiliated with FIFA, as well as their sporting organizations and national governments.

The FFF sanctions all competitive football matches in France, either directly, beginning with the {{Lang|fr|Championnat National|italic=no}} on down, or indirectly through the Ligue de Football Professionnel, who manage Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, the first and second divisions of France, respectively, as well as the Coupe de la Ligue. The LFP, however, still operate under the authority of the federation. The federation is also responsible for appointing the management of the men's, women's and youth national football teams. In 2010, the FFF had 2,107,924 licenses, with over 1,800,000 registered players and 18,000 registered clubs.[http://www.fff.fr/common/ressources/217361.pdf Licenses of the French Football Federation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118003700/http://www.fff.fr/common/ressources/217361.pdf |date=18 November 2006 }} The federation unveiled its new crest (above right) in 2007.

The French Football Federation runs numerous competitions, the most famous of which is the annual Coupe de France. The Coupe de France is managed under the authority of the Federal Commission of the Coupe de France, which is directly attached to the Federal Council of the FFF. The federation also organizes the championships of the semi-professional and amateur leagues, such as the {{Lang|fr|Championnat National|italic=no}}, the Championnat de France amateur and Championnat de France amateur 2, and the regional and departmental leagues, as well as the latter's cup competitions.

The federation also governs youth leagues, such as the {{Lang|fr|Championnat National|italic=no}} of the under-19s and under-17s. The FFF also oversee the organization of the Coupe Gambardella and the Coupe Nationale for the under-15 and under-13 club teams. The federation organizes all three divisions of women's football in France and oversee the Challenge de France, the women's premier cup competition.

The FFF is divided into 20 regional associations, corresponding to the 18 regions of France (13 mainland and 5 overseas), plus two overseas collectivities (Saint Martin and Saint Pierre and Miquelon).{{cite web | title=Fédération Française de Football | website=Fédération Française de Football | url=https://www.fff.fr/competition | language=fr | access-date=May 20, 2023}}{{cite web | title=Bureau Executif de la Ligue du Football Amateur Proces-Verbal | trans-title=Amateur Football League Executive Board Minutes | website=media.fff.fr | date=December 5, 2021 | url=https://media.fff.fr/uploads/document/7229aef34a0d826fd420692bb6eccc83.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705103359/https://media.fff.fr/uploads/document/7229aef34a0d826fd420692bb6eccc83.pdf | archive-date=July 5, 2022 | url-status=dead | access-date=May 20, 2023}} Another overseas collectivity, Saint Barthélemy, has its own territorial committee but is recognized as a district of the Guadeloupe regional association.{{cite web | title=Documents – LIGUE GUADELOUPEENNE DE FOOTBALL (Statuts) | website=LIGUE GUADELOUPEENNE DE FOOTBALL – Pasyonéman Tan Nou ! | url=https://liguefoot-guadeloupe.fff.fr/documents/?cid=22&sid=9&scid=-1&sscid=-1&pid=0 | language=fr | access-date=May 21, 2023}} French Polynesia and New Caledonia are members of FIFA in their own right and do not have regional bodies within the FFF.{{cite web | title=Fédération Calédonienne de Football | website=Oceania Football Confederation | date=July 20, 2022 | url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/new-caledonia/ | access-date=May 21, 2023}}{{cite web | title=Fédération Tahitienne de Football | website=Oceania Football Confederation | date=March 12, 2023 | url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/tahiti/ | access-date=May 21, 2023}} Wallis and Futuna is the only inhabited territory of France to not have organized football at any level.

Regional associations are responsible for organizing all competitions below Level 5 in the French league system. The number of regional associations was reduced by nine after the 2016 redrawing of regions in France.{{cite web | last=Bleu | title=CARTES : découvrez les 13 nouvelles Ligues régionales décidées par la FFF | trans-title=MAPS: discover the 13 new regional leagues decided by the FFF | website=France Bleu | date=February 9, 2016 | url=https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/foot-cartes-decouvrez-les-13-nouvelles-ligues-regionales-decidees-par-la-fff-1454690383 | language=fr | access-date=May 20, 2023}}

The French Football Force operates 14 élite academies throughout the country of France, the most famous being the INF Clairefontaine, which was created by former FFF president Fernand Sastre in 1976. Located 50 km southwest of Paris in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, INF Clairefontaine is arguably the finest football academy in the world. It has a high reputation of producing some of the most gifted French players including Nicolas Anelka, Louis Saha, William Gallas and former national team top scorer Thierry Henry.

Players selected to an academy must be at least 13 years of age, have French nationality (rule valid until 2010), and be living and playing within the region of the academy the player is registering for. Registration for new players at an academy normally begins in October the year before players enroll at the academy when prospective applicants are 12 years of age. Players have until December to register with their club for acceptance into the academy. The first set of trials are carried out by each district within its respective region. Each district selects a set number of players who will travel to the region's academy to attend a tryout, which is usually held over a three-day period. The dates of the tryouts vary depending on the academy. The Clairefontaine academy normally hold its tryouts during the Easter school holidays, however the academy in Châteauroux holds its tryouts in June. After the three days, the academy director and officials will convene to select a maximum of 22 players with three or four of the 22 being goalkeepers. The number of players selected also vary depending on the academy.

Players who are selected to attend an academy stay and train at the facilities from Monday through Friday. Players are given the weekend off to go and visit family and, also, to train and play with their parent clubs. They are given school holidays off, as well. Players are also required to meet educational criteria. For example, players age 13–15 training at Clairefontaine attend the Collège Catherine de Vivonne de Rambouilet in Rambouillet. After departing Rambouilet, players enroll at the nearby high school Lycée Louis Bascan de Rambouillet with hopes that they will earn their Baccalauréat. All costs required to attend an academy are borne by the federation and the Ligue Nationale de Football.{{cite news |title=Les conditions d'inscription |url=http://www.fff.fr/dtn/actualite/479674.shtml |work=French Football Federation |date=6 November 2010 |access-date=20 November 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104170921/http://www.fff.fr/dtn/actualite/479674.shtml |archive-date=4 November 2010 }}

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• FIFA World Cup

:* Winner (2): 1998, 2018

:* Runners-up (2): 2006, 2022

:* Third place (2): 1958, 1986

:* Fourth place (1): 1982

• UEFA European Championship

:* Winner (2): 1984, 2000

:* Runner-up (1): 2016

:* Semi-final (2): 1996, 2024

:* Fourth place (1): 1960

• UEFA Nations League

:* Winner (1): 2020–21

• Olympic Games

:* Silver Medal (1): 2024

:* Gold Medal (1): 1984

:* Bronze Medal (1): 1900

• Artemio Franchi Trophy (or Intercontinental Cup of Nations)

:* Winners: 1985

• FIFA Confederations Cup

:* Winner (2): 2001, 2003

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• FIFA Women's World Cup

:* Fourth place (1): 2011

• UEFA Women's Championship

:* Semi-Final (1): 2022

• Olympic Games

:* Fourth place (1): 2012

|}

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• FIFA U-20 World Cup

:* Winner (1): 2013

:* Fourth place (1): 2011

• FIFA U-17 World Cup

:* Winner (1): 2001

:* Third place (1): 2019

• UEFA U-21 Championship

:* Winner (1): 1988

:* Runner-up (1): 2002

:* Third place (1): 1996

:* Fourth place (1): 1994

:* Semi-final (2): 2006, 2019

• UEFA U-19/18 Championship (U-19 since 2002)

:* Winner (8): 1949, 1983, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2016

:* Runner-up (3): 1950, 1968, 2013

:* Third place (3): 1957, 1958, 1981

:* Fourth place (4): 1967, 1970, 1976, 1979

:*Semi-final (6): 2007, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019

|}

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• Nike, Inc.
• Crédit Agricole
• Électricité de France
• Volkswagen
• Uber Eats
• KFC
• Betclic
• Intermarché
• Coca-Cola

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• {{lang|fr|Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques}}, FFF predecessor
• Gymnastic and Sports Federation of French Patronages

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.fff.fr Official site] {{in lang|fr}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070603161711/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=fra/index.html France] at FIFA site

{{Football in France}}

{{Futsal in France}}

{{UEFA associations}}

{{FIFA Women's World Cup Hosts}}

{{Sports governing bodies in France}}

{{Authority control}}

France

Category:Futsal in France

Football

Category:1919 establishments in France

Category:Sports organizations established in 1919

Category:Organizations based in Paris

Category:1919 establishments in Paris