Asian Football Confederation backs Gianni Infantino for fourth FIFA term

The Asian Football Confederation's endorsement follows a period of opposition to Gianni Infantino. The AFC had stood with UEFA and Concacaf against him, according to Guardian Sport.

That disagreement involved a failed private investment plan. Al Jazeera reported that the president of the 47-nation AFC had been a critic of Infantino over the proposal.

On October 23, the AFC endorsed Infantino for a fourth term as FIFA president, ESPN FC reported. The announcement turned earlier opposition into support for his continued leadership.

AFC president Sheikh Salman praised and hugged Infantino, according to Guardian Sport. That public show of support accompanied the confederation's reversal.

The endorsement strengthened Infantino's prospects ahead of the presidential election scheduled for March, according to Telegraaf. BBC Football also reported that Asian support had boosted his re-election hopes.

Infantino now has the backing of the AFC. nu.nl assessed that the change appeared to give him a majority, but that remains an assessment of his support, not a confirmed election outcome.

The significance is both the size of the confederation and its changed position. A body representing 47 nations has moved behind a president whom its own leader had previously criticised, as Al Jazeera reported.

The next scheduled milestone is the March presidential election, reported by Telegraaf. The key test is whether the backing now expressed for Infantino translates into the votes needed to secure another term.