AFC President Remains Noncommittal on Infantino's Fourth-Term Bid
At an AFC meeting in Tokyo, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa gave no clear indication of the Asian confederation’s stance on Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president.
During a closed AFC session in Tokyo, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa declined to reveal whether the Asian Football Confederation will back or oppose Gianni Infantino’s bid for a fourth FIFA presidency term. The AFC’s 47 votes could prove pivotal, especially as Infantino faces strong European challengers but enjoys solid African support. Asia appears divided, with Qatar publicly supporting Infantino and Jordan openly opposing him, yet the confederation itself offered no official stance.
The conference, held at a five-star hotel, was not open to the media and was only broadcast on the AFC’s YouTube channel, while Infantino, who has been traveling through Bhutan and Bangladesh, did not appear. The article also noted that the upcoming Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia will proceed despite regional security concerns.
Why it matters
Asia’s vote could tip the balance in FIFA’s presidential election, influencing global football governance.
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