AP
The Asian Football Confederation has endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president in an apparent turnaround in its stance from two months ago when it criticized the head of soccer´s world governing body for a breach of trust.
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, speaking at the body´s extraordinary congress meeting in Tokyo on Friday, embraced Infantino with a large hug in front of the membership as he delivered his endorsement.
“We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the FIFA president.” Sheikh Salman said. “You´ve visited a lot of countries in Asia. I´ve spoken to a lot of members within this continent. I know your feeling and I think your commitment is clear as well.” The AFC has 47 member associations. Even if all the members don’t follow the direction of Sheikh Salman, those votes could be a key to guaranteeing another mandate for Infantino. The FIFA election is in March and the deadline for candidates to file against Infantino is Nov. 18. So far none has filed.
Addressing his remarks to Infantino, Sheikh Salman indicated not every AFC member would go along with the endorsement, but most will.
“My feeling is, I´m sure, the feeling of most of my members,” he said. “And I´ve said that to you.”
Infantino’s re-election chances have been boosted by FIFA’s plans to increase contributions to member associations from $10 million to $25 million, which he referenced Friday.
The AFC meeting was closed to the media, as were AFC meetings in Tokyo on Tuesday and Wednesday. The official events were broadcast on the AFC’s YouTube channel. This is an abrupt turnaround for Sheikh Salman. In August, the AFC joined the soccer governing bodies of Europe, and North and Central America in saying that Infantino had committed a “fundamental breach of trust.”