The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Friday, October 23, in Tokyo that it would support Gianni Infantino for a fourth and final term as FIFA president.
The AFC president announced the region’s backing for Infantino’s re-election despite a dispute between the two over a now-abandoned plan to open FIFA competitions to private investment.
“We reaffirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new term as FIFA president,” Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said following an AFC meeting in Tokyo attended by Infantino.
“I have spoken with many members of the continent (...) Your support for Gianni is very clear,” he added.
Gianni Infantino, président de la FIFA. Getty Images via AFP
The backing carries significant weight ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March. Infantino, 56, is currently the only officially declared candidate and is seeking a fourth and final term. The deadline for submitting candidacies is November 18.
The AFC had joined the European (UEFA) and North and Central American and Caribbean (Concacaf) confederations in strongly condemning Infantino’s previously undisclosed plan to open FIFA’s major competitions, above all the World Cup, to private investors. Some voices even called for Infantino to resign, but he apologized last week.
“Gianni, yes, we have had disagreements in the past. But we must move forward. Football is stronger when we work together,” Sheikh Salman said on Friday.
