AFC Shifts Gears: Infantino Gains Support for FIFA Presidency

In a remarkable twist, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has thrown its weight behind Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president. This endorsement comes just two months after the AFC had joined forces with UEFA and Concacaf in criticizing Infantino for a perceived breach of trust. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, the president of the AFC, openly embraced Infantino during an extraordinary congress in Tokyo, signaling a bold change in stance. "We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the FIFA president," he declared, highlighting the numerous visits Infantino has made across Asia. With 47 member associations under its umbrella, the AFC’s backing could prove crucial in securing Infantino's position. Although Sheikh Salman acknowledged that not every member may align with the endorsement, he expressed confidence that the majority would. "My feeling is, I’m sure, the feeling of most of my members," he noted. This endorsement marks a stark contrast to the AFC's earlier position. Back in August, the confederation had publicly condemned Infantino, along with UEFA and Concacaf, citing a "fundamental breach of trust" and demanding leadership that prioritizes the needs of football rather than trying to control it. Infantino recently apologized for his missteps regarding a now-abandoned $4.2 billion plan to sell World Cup rights to private investors. Sheikh Salman hinted at past disagreements but chose to focus on the positive developments in their relationship. "Yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past," he stated. "But let’s not relate the two things together." Before the AFC's endorsement, signs were already pointing to Infantino gaining a majority among FIFA's 211 member federations. The most enthusiastic response from the audience came when Sheikh Salman reiterated his support for Infantino, leading the FIFA president to take the stage and acknowledge his previous errors. Infantino remarked, "When you do many things, you do – hopefully, as we did, many good things – you do some mistakes as well." He also highlighted the financial benefits of his leadership, revealing that the distribution amount to member associations will jump from $1 million every four years to a staggering $25 million starting January next year.