Infantino cites 211 votes after Asia supports fourth FIFA term

FIFA president Gianni Infantino dismissed speculation about his resignation on Friday, asserting that 211 member associations worldwide support his bid for a fourth term. Speaking in a BBC interview, Infantino laughed when asked if he had considered stepping down, citing the overwhelming majority of the global football body as evidence of his mandate.

The controversy surrounding Infantino’s leadership originated from the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. This initiative sought private investment for a new entity managing commercial rights for major competitions. After abandoning the plan, Infantino faced calls to resign approximately three months ago. His political standing has since improved due to shifting alliances among continental confederations.

The Asian Football Confederation played a decisive role in this shift. President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa announced that Asia was united behind Infantino for a fourth term. Sheikh Salman noted that the AFC had previously joined European body UEFA and CONCACAF in criticizing the FFE proposal. However, the AFC’s change of stance, combined with a divided CONCACAF, has left Europe increasingly isolated in its opposition.

Infantino stated that he recently returned from Tokyo, where the AFC provided full endorsement, and Cape Verde, where all African countries did the same. He emphasized that while different viewpoints exist within FIFA, any serious democratic process must respect the views of the vast majority. The president noted that he is actively consulting with associations across the globe to gauge support.

The lack of a viable alternative candidate has further complicated the European opposition. Infantino apologized at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich last week for the handling of the FFE proposal. That gesture failed to convince European national associations, including those of Germany and England, to drop their criticism. Despite the friction, Infantino maintained a conciliatory tone, stating that it is okay to disagree but that the organization must move forward.

The 56-year-old Swiss-Italian administrator acknowledged the difficulty of unifying differing views under one roof. He said that member associations will ultimately decide who leads the organization and how it is run. Nominations for the presidency, which would run until 2031, are due by November 18.