Gianni Infantino Gets Re-Election Boost as Asia Chief Drops His Criticism

• The head of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, has backed Gianni Infantino’s bid for a fourth term as Fifa president.
• The endorsement comes two months after Sheikh Salman signed a joint letter with the heads of Uefa and Concacaf accusing Infantino of breaking trust “through deception.”
• An Associated Press tally has 87 of Fifa’s 211 member federations backing Infantino ahead of the March election in Rabat, and no rival has filed to stand against him.

Two Months After the Letter, the Asian Chief Says It Is Time to Move Forward

“We reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you as you seek a new mandate as president.” Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa chose those words for Gianni Infantino at the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Tokyo, at a meeting attended by the Fifa president. For a man who had signed a letter attacking Infantino only two months earlier, it was a sharp turn.

BBC sports editor Dan Roan wrote that the endorsement gives Infantino’s hopes of a fourth and final term a major boost, in what appears to be a blow to the rebellion against him.

What the letter said

The backing marks a U-turn after what came before. In the summer Sheikh Salman joined the heads of Uefa and Concacaf in a joint letter criticising Infantino over his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, known as the Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme. The three confederations accused him of breaking trust “through deception.” Infantino has apologised to Fifa’s 37-member ruling council in Zurich for “mistakes” he made in assembling the now-scrapped $4.2bn sell-off plan, but he did not offer a full explanation of how the proposal was devised.

In Tokyo, Sheikh Salman played down the row. “Yes, we had some issues, we spoke about them in the past, but let’s not relate the two things together,” he said. “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 ended with a pledge: “As one Asian family, we are ready to move forward, united in your support, Gianni.”

Infantino’s reply

Infantino returned the warmth. “You’ve been doing a fantastic job in AFC in the last 13 years, my dear Salman,” he told delegates, promising Sheikh Salman “always, always” his “full support” in partnership with Fifa.

Asked afterwards about the endorsement, he said: “I feel great about the AFC’s support.”

The numbers behind the vote

The election takes place in Rabat in March. Uefa will cast 55 votes, Africa 54, Asia 46, Concacaf 35, Oceania 11 and Conmebol 10. Alongside Infantino’s power base in Africa and South America, the Asian endorsement could decide whether he secures a fourth term.

The Associated Press tally shows 87 of the 211 member federations have indicated support, either in their own comments or by endorsing a regional confederation’s statement. That is close to the simple majority he needs. The largest block of opposition sits in Europe. Within Asia opinion is split: Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, has spoken in support while Jordan has declared its opposition.

The meeting with Asian leaders took place in a five-star hotel in Tokyo with the media largely excluded, according to the Associated Press.

Few challengers, and a clock running on documents

Candidates have until 18 November to confirm they are standing against Infantino. None has filed, so he could stand unopposed. Potential rivals such as Concacaf president Victor Montagliani and Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin have let it be known they are not contenders. Under Fifa rules a candidate must have played an active role in the game for two of the last five years and win declarations of support from at least five of the 211 members. The last sitting Fifa president to lose an election did so in 1974.

The governance row is not finished. Infantino proposed at last week’s Council meeting to increase the money handed out for football development across the world by $3.4bn (£2.6bn), and he has offered critics an open, independent review of how Fifa makes decisions. Uefa has told Fifa it must release key documents and answer all questions on its governance and decision-making by 2 November. The Fifa Council meets next on 16 December in Doha.

Jules Boykoff, a political scientist at Pacific University and a former professional player, told the Associated Press that “FIFA is a massive patronage network.” He said it “brings in billions from the men’s World Cup and distributes it to football associations around the world in exchange for loyalty.”

With the AFC’s president on side, Infantino heads into the 18 November deadline with no declared opponent.