Sports 5 min read By Bethany Hadley
Asian football body backs Infantino for re-election two months after trust breach claim
The Asian Football Confederation has endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president, reversing its August criticism of a «fundamental breach of trust» and giving his re-election campaign a significant boost ahead of the March vote.
The Asian Football Confederation has endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president, a striking reversal from two months ago when it accused the head of world football's governing body of a «fundamental breach of trust».
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa delivered the endorsement at an extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday, embracing Infantino in front of the Asian membership. «We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the FIFA president,» Sheikh Salman said.
The backing is a timely boost for Infantino as he campaigns for re-election amid strong opposition from Europe. The AFC has 47 member associations, and even if not all follow Sheikh Salman's direction, those votes could be key to guaranteeing another mandate.
The FIFA election is in March, with a deadline of 18 November for candidates to file against Infantino. So far none has filed. An Associated Press tally published earlier this month indicated Infantino was already edging toward a simple majority of the 211 FIFA member federations even before the AFC endorsement.
Sheikh Salman acknowledged that not every AFC member would go along with the endorsement, but said most would. «My feeling is, I'm sure, the feeling of most of my members,» he said. «And I've said that to you.»
The endorsement marks an abrupt about-face for Sheikh Salman. In August, the AFC joined the governing bodies of Europe, and North and Central America in saying Infantino had committed a «fundamental breach of trust». Infantino apologised last week in Zurich to FIFA's 37-member ruling council — which he chairs — for «mistakes» made in assembling a now-scrapped $4.2 billion plan for the World Cup.
Sheikh Salman referenced the differences with Infantino in his speech but glossed over the details. «Gianni, I want to make it clear. Yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past,» he 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.»
He added: «The past I'm sure is part of our history. We've all, I'm sure, learned important lessons from it. What matters now is how we move forward together.»
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 on 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.
Infantino has been travelling 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 football countries. Sheikh Salman noted his travels. «I know you have been everywhere. I'm sure that you set a record for being in almost every country,» he said, joking that Infantino might have a «clone».
Taking the podium after Sheikh Salman, Infantino kept his remarks light but acknowledged some errors. «When you do many things, you do — hopefully, as we did, many good things — you do some mistakes as well,» he said. «The important thing, however, is, as you said, to learn always from the experience, from the mistakes, to apologise, to move ahead, to come together, to unite, to build for our future, for your future.»
The largest applause came as he mentioned how funding has increased since he took leadership in 2016. «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.»
Sheikh Salman closed his address by repeating his support. «As one Asian family we are ready to move forward, united in your support, Gianni,» he said. «I want to make that clear today.»
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