Asian Football Chief Backs Infantino for Fourth FIFA Term After World Cup Row

Sheikh Salman says Asia is united behind Infantino

Gianni Infantino’s campaign for re-election as FIFA president has received a major boost after Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa publicly pledged the continent’s support.

Speaking at the AFC Congress in Tokyo, attended by Infantino, Sheikh Salman said: “We reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you as you seek a new mandate as president.” He said the two leaders had discussed their disagreements and added: “As one Asian family, we are ready to move forward, united in your support, Gianni.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa

Endorsement follows dispute over proposed World Cup investment scheme

The endorsement marks a sharp change in tone from two months earlier, when Sheikh Salman joined the heads of UEFA and Concacaf in criticising Infantino over his plan to sell private investors stakes in the World Cup through the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme. The confederations accused him of damaging trust “through deception”.

Sheikh Salman said the disagreement should not define the relationship, noting that the two had met in Zurich and reached an understanding. At a FIFA Council meeting last week, Infantino apologised over the abandoned proposal, though he did not provide a full account of how it had been devised. He also proposed increasing global football development funding by $3.4 billion (£2.6 billion).

Asian backing could prove significant in March vote

Infantino already has strong support in Africa and South America, and the AFC’s 46 votes could strengthen his position ahead of the election in Rabat in March. The confederations have 211 votes in total: UEFA has 55, Africa 54, Asia 46, Concacaf 35, Oceania 11 and South America’s Conmebol 10.

Candidates must confirm they are standing against Infantino by 18 November. No challenger had filed by the time of the report. UEFA has separately demanded that FIFA release key documents and answer questions about its governance and decision-making by 2 November.