Infantino jokes he won't quit after Asia flips to back his fourth term
The FIFA president asserts strong global support after the Asian confederation reversed its position and endorsed his re-election bid.
By Emma Mehta ·
FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated that 211 member associations support his bid for a fourth term. He made these remarks during a BBC interview, where he laughed when asked if he had considered resigning from his post.
Infantino’s position strengthened on Friday after Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the Asian Football Confederation, officially endorsed him. Sheikh Salman noted that Asian nations were united behind Infantino’s candidacy.
The shift in support marks a reversal for the Asian body. Previously, the AFC joined the European Union of Football Associations and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football in criticizing the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. Infantino dropped that plan, which sought private investment for a new entity controlling commercial rights to major competitions.
About three months ago, Infantino faced pressure to step down following the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise. He apologized for the handling of the proposal at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich last week. European associations, including those from Germany and England, have not accepted the apology.
Infantino said he recently returned from Tokyo, where the AFC endorsed him, and from Cape Verde, where all African countries did the same. He told the BBC that he is in discussions with associations worldwide. He argued that while FIFA contains different viewpoints, those who value democracy and equal votes must respect the views of the vast majority.
The next step in the process is the nomination deadline, set for November 18. Candidates must submit their paperwork by that date to seek the presidency. Infantino is seeking a term that would extend his leadership until 2031.
The Swiss-Italian administrator described the current political climate as one where disagreements are acceptable but progress is necessary. He stated that it is up to the member associations to decide who leads the organization and how it is run.
Source: Al Jazeera
