Infantino cites 211 member associations in defense of fourth term bid
The FIFA president dismissed resignation rumors after the Asian Football Confederation switched its endorsement to his side, isolating European rivals.
By Hugo Khalil ·
Gianni Infantino told the BBC that 211 member associations across the globe support his candidacy. He made the remark while laughing during an interview, directly addressing questions about whether he had considered stepping down from his role as FIFA president.
The controversy centers on the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. That plan aimed to bring private investors into a new entity that would manage commercial rights for major FIFA tournaments. Infantino dropped the idea, and for about three months, he faced pressure to resign. His position has strengthened since the Asian Football Confederation changed its stance.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the AFC, formally endorsed Infantino for a fourth term on Friday. Al Khalifa stated that Asia stands united behind the current president. Infantino noted that he recently returned from Tokyo, where the AFC gave its full backing, and from Cape Verde, where all African nations did the same.
The shift in support has isolated European football bodies. The AFC had previously joined UEFA and CONCACAF in criticizing the FFE proposal. Now, a divided CONCACAF and the AFC’s reversal have left Europe increasingly alone. This situation also reveals a lack of a strong alternative candidate for the presidency.
Infantino apologized at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich last week for the handling of the FFE proposal. The gesture did not convince European associations, including those from Germany and England, to drop their objections. He struck a conciliatory tone in the BBC interview, saying it is okay to disagree but that the organization must move forward.
He emphasized that any serious discussion about democracy at FIFA must respect the views of the vast majority. The 56-year-old Swiss-Italian administrator said that member associations will ultimately decide who leads the organization and how it is run. Nominations for the fourth-term election, which would cover the period until 2031, are due by November 18.
Source: Al Jazeera
