Infantino Confident of Widespread FIFA Support as He Targets Fourth Term

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he has the support of the “vast, vast majority” of member associations as he prepares to contest re-election, despite the controversy surrounding his failed proposal to bring private investors into FIFA’s commercial rights business.

His campaign received a major boost on Friday when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) publicly backed his bid for another term in office.

The endorsement has strengthened the position of the 56-year-old, whose future as FIFA president came under scrutiny two months ago following a backlash against his plan to sell part of the commercial rights to competitions organised by football’s global governing body.

In response to the proposal, the leaders of UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF signed a joint letter stressing that football “belongs to no individual”.

Infantino apologised last week over the abandoned private investment project but appears to have regained momentum ahead of the election scheduled for March.

In an interview with the BBC on Saturday, he said disagreements within FIFA were natural but argued that the views of the majority should be respected within a democratic system.

“I think what is important is that in an organisation like FIFA, there can be different views, different points of view,” he said.

Infantino continued: “But if we are serious about democracy, about the democratic process, about believing that everyone has the same vote and the same voice all over the world, that football belongs to everyone, if we are serious about that, then we need to respect as well the views of the vast, vast majority.”

He pointed to recent support from football associations in Asia and Africa as evidence of his standing among FIFA members.

“I’m just coming back off Tokyo where the Asian Football Confederation has fully endorsed me. I was in Cape Verde where all African countries have endorsed me. I’m speaking to all associations everywhere in the world,” Infantino told the BBC.

No rival candidate has declared an intention to challenge him, with the deadline for nominations set for November 18.

Despite acknowledging that bringing different opinions together can be difficult, Infantino said all viewpoints deserved consideration and that member associations would ultimately determine FIFA’s leadership and direction.

“There are different points of view it’s not always easy to bring them all under one roof but we need to respect and I do respect all opinions all views and then it will be up to the FIFA member associations to decide who they want as a president and how they want FIFA to be run,” he said.

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