FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s campaign for re-election received a major boost following an endorsement from Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa. Speaking at the confederation’s Congress in Tokyo, Sheikh Salman publicly reaffirmed Asia’s backing for Infantino’s next term.
Shift in Support and Reconciliation
The endorsement marks a sharp turnaround for Sheikh Salman, who signed a joint letter alongside leaders from UEFA and Concacaf just two months ago. That letter criticized Infantino’s unsuccessful proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors under the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, accusing the FIFA chief of deception and a breakdown of trust.
However, Sheikh Salman urged member associations during the Tokyo meeting to set aside past disagreements and move forward together. He emphasized that after consulting with delegates across the continent, Asia remains united in its commitment to supporting Infantino.
“Yes, we had some issues, we spoke about them in the past, but let’s not relate the two things together…” Sheikh Salman stated during the congress, adding that the Asian football community was ready to move forward united in Infantino’s support.
Election Landscape and Governance Deadlines
Combined with Infantino’s strong foundation of support across Africa and South America, securing Asia’s endorsement provides a critical path toward a fourth and final term. The upcoming election in Rabat, scheduled for March, features voting member associations divided across six confederations: UEFA holds 55 votes, Africa 54, Asia 46, Concacaf 35, Oceania 11, and Conmebol 10.
Candidates aiming to challenge Infantino have until November 18 to formally confirm their intention to run, though no contenders have filed thus far. High-profile figures previously considered potential rivals, including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf President Victor Montagliani, have indicated they will not enter the race.
Expressing appreciation for the endorsement, Infantino praised Sheikh Salman’s leadership within the region and told BBC Sport that he feels great about the AFC’s support. During a recent FIFA Council meeting, Infantino apologized for the controversy surrounding the World Cup investment scheme and proposed raising global football development funding by $3.4bn (£2.6bn).
Despite the renewed backing from Asia, governance concerns linger among European administrators. UEFA has set a November 2 deadline for FIFA to produce key internal documents and clarify questions regarding its decision-making procedures.
Source: BBC Sport
