The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has thrown its weight behind Gianni Infantino's bid for a fourth term as FIFA president, reversing its stance barely two months after accusing the world governing body's leadership of a “fundamental breach of trust”. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa announced the decision at the confederation's extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday, handing Infantino a significant boost ahead of the March 2027 election.

The endorsement marks a sharp change in the AFC's position following the fallout over FIFA's abandoned $4.2 billion plan to sell a minority stake in a new company managing the commercial rights of World Cup competitions. In August, the AFC had joined UEFA and CONCACAF in criticising the proposal, raising concerns over governance, transparency and the lack of consultation with FIFA's member associations.

The AFC's support is particularly significant given its 47 member associations and their voting power in the presidential election. Infantino has also received backing from South America's CONMEBOL and Africa's Confederation of African Football (CAF), whose executive committee unanimously endorsed him in August. Twenty-two Arab football associations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have also declared their support.

Addressing Infantino at the Tokyo meeting, Sheikh Salman made the AFC's position clear, signalling that the two sides were ready to move beyond their recent disagreements.

“We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the FIFA president,” Sheikh Salman said.

AFC PUTS DIFFERENCES BEHIND IT

Sheikh Salman acknowledged the tensions between the two leaders but insisted that the earlier dispute should not dictate their future relationship.

“Gianni, I want to make it clear, yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past. But let's not relate the two things together,” he said, adding that the two sides had reached an understanding during their meeting in Zurich.

“The past I'm sure is part of our history. We've all, I'm sure, learned important lessons from it. What matters now is how we move forward together.”

The shift comes after Infantino apologised to the FIFA Council last week over mistakes in the handling of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. The plan involved creating a separate commercial entity and selling a 20 per cent stake to private investors, potentially raising $4.2 billion. The proposal was withdrawn in July following widespread criticism, including concerns over the involvement of investors with links to US President Donald Trump's family.

Infantino acknowledged mistakes in the consultation and communication process, but maintained that the objective had been to increase investment in football. FIFA has since committed to reviewing its governance framework through a working group involving representatives from across the confederations.

However, the apology has not ended the controversy. UEFA has demanded answers to 42 questions covering 12 areas, including the abandoned commercial venture and FIFA's governance. European officials have argued that Infantino's apology did not provide the clarity they were seeking, while FIFA has said it intends to respond through its internal processes.

INFANTINO'S FOURTH TERM IN FOCUS

Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking another four-year mandate that would keep him in office until 2031. The election is scheduled for March 2027, with November 18 the deadline for rival candidates to submit their nominations. No challenger has formally emerged so far.

The support from Asia, Africa and South America gives Infantino backing across several major voting blocs, even as opposition persists in Europe and parts of North and Central America. The AFC's endorsement does not guarantee that all 47 member associations will vote in line with its leadership, but it strengthens his position in the build-up to the election.

The contrasting positions leave FIFA facing a wider debate over leadership, transparency and decision-making. While Infantino's supporters point to increased investment in football development under his presidency, critics continue to seek greater accountability over how major commercial decisions are made.

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