Asian Football Confederation Backs Gianni Infantino for FIFA Re-election
The Asian Football Confederation has officially endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president, marking a shift in the regional body's stance.
POLICY WIRE — Tokyo, Japan — The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially declared its support for Gianni Infantino’s campaign to secure re-election as the president of FIFA.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the AFC, confirmed the regional governing body’s endorsement on October 23. This decision represents a notable shift in position for the organization, which oversees 47 member confederations.
Just two months prior, the AFC had expressed significant criticism toward the FIFA leader. At that time, the regional body accused the governing head of a breach of trust regarding a controversial proposal to sell commercial rights for FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors.
Sheikh Salman had previously aligned himself with opposition to that specific investment plan. Despite those earlier tensions, the AFC has now moved to back Infantino’s bid for another term at the helm of world soccer.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
