Infantino gains Asian backing for FIFA re-election bid despite recent rift
Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa endorses Gianni Infantino for a new FIFA mandate, reversing recent criticism over the failed World Cup investment plan.
Gianni Infantino's bid for a fourth and final term as FIFA president has received a boost after the head of the Asian Football Confederation publicly backed him at the confederation's Congress in Tokyo, which Infantino attended. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa told delegates he reaffirmed their full commitment to supporting Infantino as he seeks a new mandate.
The endorsement marks a notable turnaround. Two months earlier, Sheikh Salman had joined the heads of UEFA and Concacaf in a joint letter criticising Infantino over his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, accusing him of breaking trust through deception over the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme. At the Tokyo meeting, Sheikh Salman said the past issues had been discussed and should not be linked to the presidential support, stressing it was time to move forward and describing the continent as united behind Infantino.
He said he had spoken to many members across Asia and that their backing for Infantino was clear, adding that recent talks in Zurich had produced a clear understanding between the parties. The support adds to Infantino's existing power base in Africa and South America. In the March election in Rabat, UEFA will hold 55 votes, Africa 54, Asia 46, Concacaf 35, Oceania 11 and Conmebol 10.
The deadline for candidates to confirm they are standing against Infantino is 18 November, and no challengers have yet filed, raising the possibility he could run unopposed. Last week, Infantino apologised at a FIFA Council meeting for the World Cup sell-off plan but did not fully explain how the proposal was devised. He also proposed increasing football development funding worldwide by $3.4bn.
UEFA has since told FIFA it must release key documents and answer all questions about its governance and decision-making by 2 November. Supporters' reactions were not included in the report, so the response of fans to the Asian endorsement remains unverified.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
