The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has endorsed Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election as FIFA president, weeks after criticising his now-abandoned plan to open the organisation’s premium competitions to private investors.
Infantino, 56, attended an AFC meeting in Tokyo on Friday, where the confederation’s president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, pledged the region’s support for his bid to secure another term.
The endorsement marks a significant boost for Infantino, who has faced mounting criticism over the proposed private investment plan and uncertainty over his re-election prospects.
In August, the AFC joined the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and CONCACAF, which represents football associations in North and Central America and the Caribbean, in condemning Infantino’s proposal to open FIFA’s top competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.
The controversy prompted calls for him to step down and raised questions about whether he could secure support for a fourth and final term.
“I think that we reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as FIFA president,” Sheikh Salman said.
“I think you’ve visited a lot of countries in Asia. I’ve spoken to a lot of members within this continent.
“I know your feeling and I think your commitment is clear as well. Your support to Gianni is very clear.”
Acknowledging previous disagreements, Sheikh Salman told the AFC Extraordinary Congress, with Infantino present: “Gianni, yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past.
“But let’s not relate the two things together. We need to move forward… football is strongest when we work together.”
Infantino apologised last week over the failed private investment proposal. He has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking re-election in March.
Infantino thanks Asian football leaders
Responding to the AFC’s endorsement, Infantino praised the region’s contribution to the development of the global game.
“We have seen the transformation that Asian football, and as a consequence world football, has gone through in these years,” he said.
“It has become truly global. It has become for everyone, and this would not have been possible without a strong, a united, a committed Asia. And for this, I thank you very much.”
The deadline for candidates to declare their intention to contest the election is November 18.
So far, no major challenger has emerged to oppose Infantino, despite criticism from several football associations, particularly in Europe.
Several leading European national associations have withdrawn their support for him amid a series of controversies, including his close relationship with United States President Donald Trump.
Two months ago, the AFC and Sheikh Salman signalled the possibility of withdrawing their support for Infantino.
In a joint letter with UEFA and CONCACAF, the confederations declared that football “belongs to no individual”.
“Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding — or demanding — power to be held,” they wrote.
“When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned,” the confederations added.
Infantino has also secured the backing of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while South American governing body CONMEBOL has been broadly supportive of his leadership.
However, the confederations do not vote as unified blocs, and some members of CONCACAF have also expressed support for Infantino.
Within Asia, Kuwait and Qatar, hosts of the 2022 World Cup, had previously backed his re-election bid. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has also supported him. Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the 2034 World Cup.
AFP
