Asian Football Confederation Backs Infantino for FIFA Re-election

Gianni Infantino's bid for re-election as FIFA president has received a significant boost with the endorsement of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This support comes after a period of criticism directed at the FIFA chief regarding his controversial plan to sell off World Cup commercial rights to private investors.

The AFC president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, publicly embraced Infantino and declared the confederation's backing at an extraordinary congress in Tokyo. This marks a notable turnaround for the AFC, which had previously expressed disapproval of Infantino's actions, citing a breach of trust. The endorsement is crucial for Infantino, as he requires 106 votes to secure his re-election in the upcoming March elections.