AFC backs Infantino for re-election as FIFA president

TOKYO, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has endorsed Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president, marking a turnaround from two months ago when it criticized him over a controversial World Cup investment plan. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa voiced his support at the confederation's extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday, embracing Infantino and pledging the region's backing for his bid for a fourth and final term. "We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the FIFA president," Sheikh Salman said. In August, the AFC joined UEFA and CONCACAF in accusing Infantino of a "fundamental breach of trust" over his plan to open FIFA's premium competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The plan was subsequently scrapped, prompting several European football associations, including the English Football Association, to withdraw their support for Infantino's re-election. "Gianni, yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past. But let's not relate the two things together," Sheikh Salman said. "We need to move forward ... football is strongest when we work together." He acknowledged that not all AFC member associations might follow his lead but expressed confidence that most would support Infantino. "My feeling is, I'm sure, the feeling of most of my members," he said. Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seeking a fourth and final term in the election scheduled for March 2027 in Morocco. The deadline for candidates to register is November 18 this year, and no challenger has announced a bid so far. Addressing AFC delegates, Infantino acknowledged his mistakes and stressed the importance of learning from them. "When you do many things, you do -- hopefully, as we did, many good things -- you do some mistakes as well," Infantino said. "The important thing, however, is, as you said, to learn always from the experience, from the mistakes, to apologize, to move ahead, to come together, to unite, to build for our future, for your future." Infantino has also received backing from the Confederation of African Football, while South America's governing body CONMEBOL is largely supportive. The AFC has 47 member associations, 46 of which are FIFA members eligible to vote in the presidential election. While the endorsement does not guarantee unanimous support from its members, it significantly boosts Infantino's re-election bid. FIFA's president is elected by its 211 member associations.