AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa gave no indication on Thursday of where Asian football stands on Gianni Infantino's bid for a fourth term as FIFA president, closing a two-day session in Tokyo without declaring support or opposition.
Infantino faces an election in March, and the 47 votes held by AFC members could prove decisive. He has strong opposition in Europe and solid backing in Africa, leaving Asia as a potential swing bloc. Opposition candidates have until Nov. 18 to file, and none had done so as of Thursday.
"For people who try to divide us this is not going to happen," Sheikh Salman said in his brief closing address.
The tone marked a shift from just over two months earlier, when the AFC joined the governing bodies of North and Central American and European soccer in saying Infantino had committed a "fundamental breach of trust." Recent reports and Thursday's remarks suggest Sheikh Salman may have moderated that position. Asia itself appears split: Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup, has come out in support of Infantino, while Jordan has declared its opposition.
"We're not against anyone and we're not in favor of anyone," Sheikh Salman said. "We're always going to express our feelings and try to do what's best and what's right for football. Not just in Asia."
The Tokyo meetings were held in a five-star hotel and closed to media, with proceedings available only through orchestrated presentations on the AFC's YouTube channel. Infantino did not appear publicly at the seminars, though FIFA's media office highlighted his visits during the week to Bhutan and Bangladesh -- small federations that each carry a single vote, the same weight as Spain or France.
Infantino apologized last week in Zurich to FIFA's 37-member ruling council for "mistakes" made in assembling a now-scrapped $4.2 billion sell-off plan for the World Cup. An Associated Press tally found that 87 of FIFA's 211 member federations have indicated support for Infantino, either individually or through their regional confederations.
Sheikh Salman also referred to instability in the Middle East and its impact on football in the region. "We know that the world is changing and football, I think, gets affected as well from what's happening, whether it's political, economical or whatever it is," he said. "People are following the news, what's happening in the Middle East. It's important for us."
Asian Cup preparations continue in Saudi Arabia
Organizers confirmed that the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia remains on track for Jan. 7-Feb. 5, despite deadly attacks on the country by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, according to Muhammed Q. Alghamdi, a spokesman for the organizing committee. The tournament will feature 24 teams playing across three cities -- Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar -- with reports suggesting it may be too late to shift to an alternative venue.
"I'd like to start by acknowledging that we are monitoring the regional developments and we're working closely with our counterparts at the AFC to make sure we can provide an exceptional tournament," Alghamdi said. "I stand before you now and I am pleased to say that daily life is ongoing in Saudi Arabia. Our job is to be ready, and we will be ready."
