Sawt Falasteen - Diallo reelected head of French football

Diallo, who took over after the resignation of long-standing former chief Noel Le Graet in 2023, won just over 55 percent of the vote to beat Le Graet's former ally Pierre Samsonoff.

For the first time in France's largest sports federation which boosts 2.4 million members, the presidents of amateur clubs could vote electronically along with the heads of professional clubs with 11,500 voters compared to fewer than 250 previously.

Diallo, 61, welcome the "strong legitimacy" the vote gave him and praised the "democratic maturity which does honour to our sport".

He said he would begin a nationwide discussion on French football from mid-January "to define together our roadmap for aid to amateur football".

During the campaign Diallo highlighted his record within the federation including a 100 million euros ($105 million) per year contract from 2026 with American sportswear brand Nike.

Diallo also courted amateur football by increasing the budget from 100 to 150 million euros annually between now and 2028, and underlined his ambition for women's football where he wants to double membership from 250,000 to 500,000 within five years.

Diallo stepped up in January 2023 when Le Graet first moved aside and then was forced to resign following accusations of sexual and psychological harassment, bringing to an end more than a decade in charge.

K.AbuTaha--SF-PST