Asian football backs Infantino's bid for fourth FIFA term after earlier rift

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has endorsed Gianni Infantino's bid for re-election as FIFA president, reversing its earlier criticism of the football governing body's plan to allow private investors into its premium competitions. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa announced the decision on Friday at an extraordinary congress in Tokyo, where Infantino was present, giving the Swiss official a significant boost ahead of the election scheduled for March.

The endorsement comes weeks after the AFC joined the European football governing body, UEFA, and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean, in criticising Infantino over his proposed private investment plan for competitions such as the World Cup. Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, has faced calls to resign and lost the support of some national football associations amid the controversy.

Sheikh Salman, however, said Asia remained committed to supporting the FIFA president as he seeks another mandate. "I think that we reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as FIFA president," he said.

He added that he had consulted several members across the continent and was confident about their position on Infantino's leadership. Acknowledging the disagreements between the two sides, Sheikh Salman said their differences should not prevent them from working together.

"Gianni, yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past. But let's not relate the two things together.

We need to move forward… football is strongest when we work together," he said. Infantino apologised last week over the failed private investment initiative, which had attracted opposition from several football stakeholders.

Responding to the AFC's endorsement, he praised the continent's contribution to the global development of the sport and thanked its members for their support. "We have seen the transformation that Asian football, and as a consequence world football, has gone through in these years," Infantino said.

It has become for everyone, and this would not have been possible without a strong, a united, a committed Asia. And for this, I thank you very much.

The deadline for candidates to declare their intention to contest the FIFA presidency is November 18. So far, no major challenger has emerged against Infantino, despite criticism from several quarters, particularly in Europe.