Asian Football Body Now Backs Infantino for Fifa President

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has publicly endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as Fifa president, representing a dramatic reversal from its position just two months earlier.

AFC president Sheikh Salman was seen praising and embracing Infantino, a gesture widely interpreted as a strong signal of renewed support and reconciliation between the two figures.

The shift marks a notable turnaround, since the AFC had previously aligned itself with Uefa, European football's governing body, and Concacaf, the confederation representing North and Central American football, in opposing Infantino's continued leadership.

This earlier stance had suggested a rare moment of unity among major regional confederations against Fifa's sitting president, raising questions about internal divisions within football's governing structures.

However, the AFC's decision to perform a U-turn now places it firmly back in Infantino's camp, potentially weakening the coalition that had previously opposed him.

Fifa presidential elections depend heavily on support from the organisation's various continental confederations, each representing a significant bloc of national football associations and their accompanying votes.

The AFC, which oversees football across much of Asia, carries considerable influence due to the sheer number of member associations under its umbrella.

Its renewed backing could therefore prove decisive for Infantino as he seeks to extend his tenure at the helm of world football's governing body.

The precise motivations behind the AFC's reversal have not been detailed in available reporting, leaving observers to speculate about internal negotiations, diplomatic pressure, or shifting political calculations within the confederation.

Such abrupt changes in allegiance are not unprecedented in football politics, where alliances between confederations can shift rapidly based on strategic interests.

It remains to be seen whether Uefa and Concacaf will maintain their original opposition to Infantino or whether the AFC's move might prompt further realignments ahead of any forthcoming presidential vote.

Infantino, who has held the Fifa presidency for several years, has frequently found himself at the centre of political manoeuvring among football's most powerful regional bodies.

This latest development underscores the often volatile and transactional nature of governance within international football, where public displays of unity can mask complex underlying negotiations.