Infantino claims 211 votes after AFC endorses fourth term

FIFA President Gianni Infantino dismissed talk of his resignation by citing the support of 211 member associations. He made the remarks during a BBC interview on Friday, laughing when asked if he had considered stepping down.

Infantino’s position strengthened earlier in the week when Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation, endorsed him for a fourth term. Al Khalifa stated that Asian nations were united behind Infantino. The president said he had just returned from Tokyo, where the AFC formally backed his bid, and from Cape Verde, where African associations did the same.

"I was elected by 211 member associations from all over the world," Infantino told the BBC. He argued that while different points of view exist within the organization, anyone who believes in equal votes must respect the views of the vast majority.

The endorsement follows the failure of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, a plan for private investment in a new commercial rights entity. Infantino abandoned the proposal about three months ago after facing calls to resign. The AFC had previously joined UEFA and CONCACAF in criticizing the plan, but the Asian body has now reversed course.

This shift has isolated European rivals. UEFA and a divided CONCACAF remain critical of Infantino, while no other viable candidate has emerged. European football associations from Germany and England maintained their criticism despite Infantino’s apology at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich last week.

Infantino, a 56-year-old Swiss-Italian administrator, said it is okay to disagree but emphasized the need to move forward. He noted that member associations will decide who runs FIFA and how it operates. He is seeking a term that would run until 2031.

Potential candidates must submit their nominations by November 18.