Asian football chiefs have U-turned and backed Fifa president Gianni Infantino for re-election just weeks after accusing him of “a fundamental breach of trust”.
The move is another nail in the coffin of the bid to oust Infantino over his secret World Cup sell-off plan and leaves European governing body Uefa increasingly isolated in opposition.
Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa told the organisation’s extraordinary congress: “We reaffirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as a Fifa president.
“I think you have visited a lot of countries in Asia, 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.
“So that’s why Gianni I want to make it clear: yes, we had some issues, we spoke about them in the past, but let’s not relate the two things together.
“The last few days we met in Zurich, you made it clear there was a clear understanding between us and that’s why we’re happy to have you here as well. As one Asian family, we are ready to move forward, united in your support, Gianni.”
AFC’s spectatcular climbdown
It represents a spectacular climbdown from AFC, which joined Uefa and North American and Caribbean confederation Concacaf in excoriating Infantino in August after details of his plan to partially privatise Fifa’s World Cup business leaked.
A joint statement signed by the three bodies said: “Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding – or demanding – power to be held. It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it.
“When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”
It added: “We have taken this stance: not lightly and not alone, but together, and out of duty to the game we serve.
“Football’s strength has always been its unity. We call for that unity to be honoured now, for leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it.”
Uefa still wants Infantino out
The vast majority of Uefa members still want Infantino out but those hopes look increasingly forlorn, at least through democratic means, after the Fifa president successfully divided his opponents.
First, he corralled support among Caribbean nations to split the Concacaf vote and then secured the backing of Arab nations – including influential Saudi Arabia and Qatar – which has resulted in AFC falling into line.
It means that there still remains no serious alternative candidate to Infantino in the next Fifa election, due to take place in March. Anyone wishing to stand must declare next month.
Uefa continues to pursue Infantino and others involved in Fifa Forward Enterprise, the privatisation plan that would have seen 20 per cent of equity in a new commercial vehicle sold to investors including Joshua Kushner for $4bn, through the US courts.
But attempts to secure materials relating to FFE have so far been frustrated, and Uefa this week reiterated calls for all documents to be made available after being told at last week’s Fifa Council meeting that the request would have to be put in writing.
Infantino apologised to the Fifa Council for sidelining them in talks with FFE investors. Critics believe his delays in handing over the documents are another ploy to stall momentum behind an electoral challenge until after the deadline for rivals elapses.