Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will support Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid as FIFA president.
The President of AFC Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa officially pledged Asia’s support for Gianni Infantino on Wednesday.
He also confirmed he will seek a third term as AFC president as well.
Infantino is bidding for a third straight stint in charge of football’s global governing body having defeated Sheikh Salman to claim the presidency in 2016.
He succeeded Sepp Blatter after his unceremonious exit.
“The Asian football family is forever grateful to president Infantino for his steadfast support and commitment to developing the game in our continent,” Sheikh Salman said during his address by video to delegates from Bahrain.
“We were encouraged by the motivated leadership provided by President Infantino during the COVID-19 pandemic, not only to Asian football but also to world football.
“As the Asian football family warmly welcomes president Infantino’s re-election bid, I can assure him today that we will stand united behind his candidateship.”
Infantino said he was “honored and humbled” to receive the pledge of support from Asian delegates.
“To me, this means a lot,” he said. “You know my very tight ties with Asia, a continent I cherish, that I love, that I fondly believe in, a continent that had a great past in football and will have a much greater future.”
Sheikh Salman also confirmed he would stand for a third term as AFC president after initially taking over in 2013 from then-acting president Zhang Jilong.
