Infantino Gains Momentum with Asian Football Chief's Support
Gianni Infantino's path to re-election as Fifa president has received a significant boost from the Asian Football Confederation's president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa. At the confederation's Congress in Tokyo, Sheikh Salman publicly reaffirmed his commitment, stating, "We reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you as you seek a new mandate as president."
This endorsement marks a notable turnaround for Sheikh Salman, who just two months ago joined other confederation leaders in criticizing Infantino over his controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Back then, the trio accused him of breaking trust through deception concerning the Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme.
However, Sheikh Salman indicated it was time to look ahead. "I've spoken to a lot of members within this continent. I know your feeling and I think your commitment is clear as well. Your support to Gianni is very clear," he declared.
He emphasized the need to separate past grievances from current support, saying, "Yes, we had some issues, we spoke about them in the past, but let's not relate the two things together." Their recent meeting in Zurich had fostered a clearer understanding, he noted, underscoring the importance of unity: "As one Asian family, we are ready to move forward, united in your support, Gianni."
With Sheikh Salman's backing, alongside Infantino's established support in Africa and South America, this endorsement could be pivotal for securing his fourth and final term as president. The election in Rabat next March will see a bloc of votes from various confederations: Uefa with 55, Africa 54, Asia 46, Concacaf 35, Oceania 11, and Conmebol 10.
Candidates have until November 18 to declare their intention to run against Infantino, but as of now, none have stepped forward, leaving the door open for him to run unopposed.
Last week, during a Fifa Council meeting, Infantino issued an apology for his World Cup sell-off plan, although he did not provide a comprehensive explanation of how the proposal came about. He also proposed an increase of $3.4 billion for global football development.
In response, Uefa has demanded that Fifa release key documents and respond to governance-related questions by November 2, putting pressure on Infantino as he navigates this critical election period.
