Asian Football Confederation Endorses FIFA President in Tokyo

The Asian Football Confederation has officially declared its full support for the current FIFA president in his bid for a new term, during a meeting held in Tokyo with the president present. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, head of the Asian Confederation, reaffirmed the commitment to back the FIFA leader, noting that consultations with football officials across Asia revealed widespread support for his candidacy. This endorsement follows a period of disagreements between the parties regarding a project to establish a commercial company affiliated with FIFA, allowing private sector investors, which the Asian Confederation opposed alongside other associations. Despite earlier calls for the current president's resignation, many national associations in Asia have shifted their stance to support him, reflecting a change in the continental body's official position. Sheikh Salman emphasized the importance of moving past previous disputes and working together to strengthen football, stating that cooperation enhances the sport. This backing holds significant weight given the Asian Confederation's 46 member associations, compared to other confederations. The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March, with candidacy closing on November 18. The current president is seeking another term, with no major challenger officially announced yet.