FIFA President Infantino Claims Strong Support for Re-Election Bid

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that he has the support of a large number of football associations as he aims for re-election. This comes despite facing criticism for a failed plan to sell commercial rights to private investors.

On Friday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) publicly supported Infantino, which strengthens his chances of winning a fourth term. Just two months ago, his position was uncertain after he faced backlash for his proposal to sell parts of FIFA’s commercial rights.

Leaders from UEFA, the governing body for European football, the AFC, and CONCACAF, which oversees football in North and Central America, had previously expressed their concerns. They stated that football should not belong to any one person.

Infantino apologized last week for the failed investment project and now feels confident about his re-election prospects. He emphasized the importance of respecting different opinions within FIFA, saying, “If we are serious about democracy… then we need to respect as well the views of the vast, vast majority.”

He also mentioned his recent endorsements from the AFC and African nations, indicating that he is in discussions with associations worldwide. As of now, no other candidates have announced plans to run against him, with the deadline for nominations approaching on November 18.