Asian Football Makes U-Turn, Endorses Infantino’s Re-election

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president at a meeting in Tokyo. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa urged the region to move past disagreements over Infantino’s failed plan to open FIFA’s premium competitions to private investors. Infantino, FIFA president since 2016, apologized for the project’s failure and is seeking a fourth and final term in March; candidates must declare by November 18. He also has backing from the CAF, while several European national associations have withdrawn their support.