TOKYO – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president, reversing its earlier criticism of the football chief over a controversial US$4.2 billion private investment plan.
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa announced the decision at the organisation’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday, pledging the support of Asia’s 47-member football confederation as Infantino seeks a fourth term in office.
The endorsement could strengthen Infantino’s re-election campaign ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027. The deadline for rival candidates to submit their nominations is November 18, and no challenger had filed by Friday, according to the report.
“We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the FIFA president,” Sheikh Salman told Infantino.
However, the AFC chief acknowledged that not all member associations might follow his lead, saying he believed the majority would support the FIFA president.
The endorsement marks a significant shift in relations between the two football leaders. In August, the AFC joined UEFA and CONCACAF in accusing Infantino of a “fundamental breach of trust” over his plan to sell stakes in FIFA events, including the World Cup, to private investors.
The US$4.2 billion proposal was subsequently abandoned following widespread opposition.
Infantino apologised last week to FIFA’s 37-member ruling council, admitting he had made mistakes in developing the investment plan.
Sheikh Salman referred to the previous disagreements during Friday’s address but said the two sides had reached an understanding following their recent meeting in Zurich.
“Yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past,” he said. “But let’s not relate the two things together.”
He added that the focus should now be on moving forward, suggesting that lessons had been learnt from the dispute.
Infantino, who took over as FIFA president in 2016, also acknowledged that mistakes were inevitable but stressed the importance of learning from them, apologising and rebuilding unity.
His re-election campaign has included extensive international travel as he seeks support from football associations worldwide. FIFA has also increased funding to member associations under his leadership.
Infantino told the AFC congress that associations which previously received US$1 million every four years would receive US$25 million from January 1, 2027.
The funding pledge and growing support from regional confederations could prove influential as Infantino moves closer to the election, although the level of backing from individual Asian member associations remains uncertain.
