Infantino cites 211 votes to defend fourth FIFA term

FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated that 211 member associations worldwide support his bid for a fourth term, effectively dismissing recent calls for his resignation. In an interview with the BBC, the Swiss-Italian administrator laughed when asked if he had considered stepping down. He argued that in a democratic organization where every nation holds an equal vote, leaders must respect the views of the vast majority.

The controversy began with the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. That plan aimed to attract private investment for a new entity controlling commercial rights to major tournaments. Infantino abandoned the project, which led to pressure for his exit roughly three months ago. However, his political standing has strengthened in recent weeks.

On Friday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) formally endorsed Infantino for another four-year term. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa declared that Asia was united behind the current president. This endorsement follows similar support from African nations. Infantino noted that he recently returned from Tokyo and Cape Verde, where he secured full backing from those regions.

The shift in support has isolated European football. UEFA and CONCACAF had previously criticized the FFE proposal. The AFC later joined that criticism, but its recent change of course has split the global governing body. A divided CONCACAF and the AFC’s new alignment have left European associations increasingly alone in their opposition. This division has also highlighted the lack of a strong alternative candidate for the presidency.

Infantino is seeking a term that would extend his leadership until 2031. Nominations for potential candidates are due by November 18. Last week, the FIFA president apologized at a council meeting in Zurich for how the FFE proposal was managed. That apology did not change the minds of major European associations, including those representing Germany and England.

Despite the dissent, Infantino maintained a conciliatory tone during the interview. He said it is acceptable to disagree, but stakeholders must then move forward. He acknowledged the difficulty of unifying different viewpoints under one roof but said he respects all opinions. He left the final decision to FIFA’s member associations, who will determine the future leadership of the organization.