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 embraced Infantino with a large hug Friday in front of the Asian membership at an extraordinary congress meeting in Tokyo, where he delivered his endorsement. It was a timely boost for Infantino as he campaigns for re-election amid strong opposition from Europe
“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 enhanced 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.
An abrupt about-face
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.”
Infantino apologized last week in Zurich to FIFA’s 37-member ruling council — which he chairs — for “mistakes” he made in assembling a now-scrapped $4.2 billion plan for the World Cup.
Sheikh Salman referenced the differences with Infantino in his speech Friday, but glossed over any details.
“Gianni, I want to make it clear. Yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past,” Sheikh Salman said. “But let’s not relate the two things together. I think the last few (times) we met in Zurich you made it clear that there’s a true understanding between us.”
“The past I’m sure is part of our history,” he added, “We’ve all, I’m sure, learned important lessons from it. What matters now is how we move forward together. I think everyone has questions and I’m sure the answers we be available, whether to us in Asia, or the rest of the world.”
An Associated Press tally published earlier this month indicated Infantino — even before the AFC endorsement — is edging toward a simple majority of the 211 FIFA member federations.
Infantino’s electioneering around the globe
Infantino has been traveling the globe to promote a new funding model, supported last week by FIFA’s Council, which offers millions more dollars in financial support for small and large soccer countries.
“Thank you for being here,” Sheikh Salman said to Infantino. “I know you have been everywhere. I’m sure that you set a record for being in almost every country.”
Sheikh Salman then joked that, perhaps, Infantino had a “clone.”
That drew a laugh. But the largest applause came at the end of his brief address when he again repeated his support for Infantino.
“As one Asian family we are ready to move forward, united in your support, Gianni,” Sheikh Salman added. “I want to make that clear today.”
Infantino accepts the support
Infantino took the podium following Sheikh Salman and kept it light. But he did acknowledge some errors.
“When you do many things, you do — hopefully, as we did, many good things — you do some mistakes as well,” Infantino said. “The important thing, however, is, as you said, to learn always from the experience, from the mistakes, to apologize, to move ahead, to come together, to unite, to build for our future, for your future.”
The largest applause came as he mentioned how, since he took the leadership in 2016, more funding is flowing.
“Before I started as FIFA president — each of you, some of you are still (here) and still remember — that time,” Infantino said. “Each of you was receiving $1 million US dollars every four years. As of the first of January of next year, it will be $25 million US dollars.”