Infantino cites 211 votes after Asia backs his fourth bid
The FIFA president said he holds the support of the vast majority of member associations following an endorsement from the Asian Football Confederation.
By Aiko Petrov ·
Gianni Infantino told the BBC that 211 member associations support his bid to serve a fourth term as FIFA president. He laughed when asked if he had considered resigning, stating that his backing is overwhelming. The comments come as he seeks to cement his position for a term running until 2031.
Infantino’s standing improved on Friday when Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation, endorsed him. Sheikh Salman said Asia was united behind the FIFA chief. This endorsement follows a similar show of support from African nations in Cape Verde, where Infantino recently traveled.
The push for Infantino’s removal stemmed from the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. That plan sought private investment to control commercial rights for major competitions. Infantino abandoned the project and faced calls to step down about three months ago. He later apologized to the FIFA Council in Zurich for how the proposal was handled.
European football bodies, including UEFA, initially criticized the FFE plan alongside CONCACAF. However, CONCACAF is now divided, and the Asian confederation has changed its stance. This shift has left Europe increasingly isolated in its opposition. There is currently no viable alternative candidate for the presidency.
Infantino noted that different points of view exist within FIFA. He said anyone serious about democracy must respect the views of the vast majority of nations. He emphasized that member associations will ultimately decide who leads the organization and how it is run.
The 56-year-old Swiss-Italian administrator struck a conciliatory tone regarding the ongoing dispute. He said it is okay to disagree but that the organization needs to move on. He acknowledged that bringing differing views together is not always easy.
Potential candidates for the FIFA presidency have until November 18 to submit their nominations. Infantino continues to speak with associations around the world as the election process moves forward.
Source: Al Jazeera
