Asian football’s governing body has declared its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid, signalling a shift in relations following disagreements over his controversial proposal to attract private investment into major football competitions.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa announced the endorsement on Friday during the confederation’s Extraordinary Congress in Tokyo, where Infantino was present.
The declaration comes weeks after the AFC joined UEFA and CONCACAF in criticising the FIFA president over a proposed arrangement that would have opened premium competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.
Despite the earlier dispute, Sheikh Salman told delegates that Asian football remained committed to Infantino’s leadership.
“I think that we reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as FIFA president,” he said.
The AFC president acknowledged previous disagreements but stressed the importance of cooperation among football’s governing institutions.
“Gianni, yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past,” he stated.
“But let’s not relate the two things together. We need to move forward… football is strongest when we work together.”
Infantino, 56, has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking a fourth and final term in the presidential election scheduled for March.
His latest campaign has faced opposition from several football associations following controversies surrounding his administration, including the abandoned private investment proposal.
The FIFA president apologised last week over the unsuccessful initiative, which had attracted criticism from regional confederations concerned about governance and accountability.
In August, the AFC, UEFA and CONCACAF issued a joint statement questioning the concentration of authority within football leadership.
The confederations declared that football belonged to no individual and emphasised the responsibility of administrators to maintain the trust of their members.
Some leading European football associations have since withdrawn their support for Infantino, with his relationship with United States President Donald Trump also attracting criticism.
Responding to the latest endorsement, Infantino thanked the AFC for its contribution to the development of international football.
He credited Asian football with helping to expand the sport’s global reach and strengthening its international presence.
Infantino has also received support from the Confederation of African Football, while South American governing body CONMEBOL is reported to be broadly supportive.
Within Asia, football associations in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had previously expressed backing for his continued leadership.
However, regional endorsements do not automatically translate into votes, as FIFA member associations make their electoral decisions individually rather than through confederation blocs.
The deadline for candidates to declare their intention to contest the presidency is November 18.
With the election approaching, the AFC’s endorsement marks a significant development in Infantino’s campaign, although divisions over FIFA’s governance remain unresolved.
Ezeana Emmanuel
