Asian Football Federation Endorses Infantino’s Re-election Bid

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has backed Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election as FIFA president, strengthening the incumbent’s position before the March vote in Rabat, Morocco.

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa announced the endorsement at the confederation’s congress in Tokyo, Japan, where Infantino was present. BBC Sport reported on Friday that Salman told Infantino the AFC was reaffirming its commitment to supporting him for a new mandate.

The support marks a shift for Salman, who two months ago joined the heads of UEFA and Concacaf in signing a joint letter criticising Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The three confederations accused Infantino of breaking trust “through deception” over the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, called the plan a serious failure of judgment and said such conduct was not what football leadership should embody.

At the Tokyo congress, Salman urged unity, saying he had spoken with many AFC members and that their backing for Infantino was clear. He acknowledged past disagreements but said they should not be linked to the presidential endorsement, adding that Asia was ready to move forward as one family behind Infantino.

Infantino welcomed the AFC’s support, saying he felt “great” about it. He praised Salman’s 13 years of leadership at the AFC and promised FIFA’s partnership and full support for him in the future.

The AFC’s backing adds to Infantino’s support in Africa and South America as he seeks another term at the head of world football’s governing body.

At the March election, UEFA will have 55 votes, Africa 54, Asia 46, Concacaf 35, Oceania 11 and South America’s CONMEBOL 10.

Candidates intending to challenge Infantino must confirm their participation by November 18. No rival has filed a candidacy so far, raising the possibility that the incumbent could stand unopposed. Potential challengers, including Concacaf president Victor Montagliani and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, have indicated they will not contest the election.

Infantino’s campaign has faced scrutiny over his proposed World Cup investment scheme. At a FIFA Council meeting last week, he apologised for the proposal but did not fully explain how it had been developed. He also proposed increasing funding for football development worldwide by $3.4 billion (£2.6 billion).

UEFA has since given FIFA until November 2 to release key documents and answer questions about its governance and decision-making processes. Despite the unresolved concerns, the AFC’s endorsement signals its intention to support Infantino as the election approaches.