Petit, who won the World Cup with France in 1998 and then the European Championship two years later, said in an interview with France Football magazine that "I am ready to invest myself in football in a political way."
The 42-year-old Petit wants to increase the role of sport in French society, stop international players from getting paid bonuses, develop the amateur game, and help women have a bigger role in football.
He says "politicians have a condescending attitude to sport. There are millions of athletes in France, but where was sport during the presidential elections?"
The current FFF president is Noel Le Graet, who is hoping to be re-elected to another four-year term.
Emmanuel Petit wants to be FFF president in 2016
Advertisement