Infantino Claims 211 Votes Back Him as Asian Bloc Endorses Fourth Term
The FIFA president cited overwhelming support from member associations following a new endorsement from the Asian Football Confederation, despite ongoing criticism from Europe.
By Malcolm Davis ·
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that 211 member associations from around the world support his bid for a fourth term. He made the claim during a recent interview with the BBC, where he dismissed questions about potential resignation with a laugh.
The controversy stems from the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. This plan sought private investment for a new entity that would control commercial rights for major FIFA competitions. Infantino abandoned the idea, and roughly three months ago, he faced calls to step down. His position appears stronger now after securing key continental endorsements.
Support increased on Friday when Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation, endorsed Infantino for a fourth term. Sheikh Salman stated that Asia is united behind the current president. Infantino noted that he recently returned from Tokyo, where the AFC fully backed him, and from Cape Verde, where all African countries did the same.
Infantino explained that in an organization like FIFA, different viewpoints are natural. However, he argued that anyone serious about democracy and equal votes for every nation must respect the views of the vast majority. He added that he is currently speaking with associations everywhere in the world to gauge their support.
The AFC had previously joined European body UEFA and CONCACAF in criticizing the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. The recent change in position by the AFC, along with a divided CONCACAF, has left Europe increasingly isolated in its criticism. This shift has also exposed a lack of viable alternative candidates for the FIFA presidency.
Infantino is seeking a term that would run until 2031. Nominations for potential candidates are due by November 18. He apologized last week at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich for how the failed proposal was handled. That apology did not sway European football associations, including those of Germany and England.
The 56-year-old Swiss-Italian administrator adopted a conciliatory tone in his comments. He acknowledged that bringing differing views together is not always easy but said he respects all opinions. He stated that it is now up to FIFA's member associations to decide who they want as president and how they want the organization to be run.
Source: Al Jazeera
