The English Football Federation has suspended support for Michel Platini's candidacy for the FIFA presidency until the legal process is finalized.
The FA said on Friday it had made its decision after hearing additional information "relating to this case from Mr Platini's lawyer."
The statement added: "As a result of this information the board reached this morning to suspend its support for the nomination of Mr. Platini to the presidency of the International Federation until the completion of legal procedures and clarity of the situation."
The English Federation is the first of the major European countries to withdraw its official support for Platini, a candidate to succeed the outgoing Swiss Blatter Joseph Blatter.
The FA has indicated that it reserves the right “to decide to support a candidate in the elections of 26 February 2016”.
Platini and Blatter were suspended by FIFA's Ethics Committee for 90 days, days after the Swiss judiciary heard the first and investigated the second for an "illegal payment" of 2 million Swiss francs received by the French from FIFA in 2011.
Platini later explained that this amount was for a work he did for FIFA between 1999 and 2002, and that his delay to 2011 was due to the financial problems faced by FIFA in late 2002 after the bankruptcy of the international marketing partner ISL.
Platini and Blatter appealed their decision last week.
The European Union confirmed the game on Thursday, after its executive committee meeting in Nyon, "his absolute confidence" in President Platini and his full support in his candidacy to succeed Blatter.
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