Asian soccer chief gives no hint about support -- or opposition -- to Infantino

TOKYO (AP) — The president of the Asian Football Confederation gave no hint Thursday about the body's support — or opposition — to the re-election of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president.

The votes of the AFC's 47 members could be critical when Infantino seeks his fourth term in an election in March. Infantino faces strong opposition in Europe, has staunch support in Africa — and Asia could provide the swing votes.

Opposition candidates have until Nov. 18 to file. So far, none has.

“For people who try to divide us this is not going to happen,” AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said in a brief address to close a two-day session in Tokyo.

He gave no indication that the AFC as a body would take a position on Infantino.

That was different from just over two months ago when the AFC joined the soccer governing bodies in North and Central America and Europe saying Infantino committed a “fundamental breach of trust.”

Recent reports and his short talk on Thursday indicate Sheikh Salman may have moderated his views. Asia appears split. Qatar, the 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 meetings in a five-star hotel in Tokyo were closed to the media. The conference was shown on the AFC’s YouTube channel, orchestrated presentations without reporters present.

Infantino seldom speaks with the media and has been been traveling and electioneering in Asia but did not appear publicly at the seminars in Tokyo. FIFA's media office during the week promoted his presence in Bhutan and Bangladesh , small federations that each have one vote — the same as powerful soccer nations such as Spain and France.

Infantino apologized last week in Zurich to FIFA’s 37-member ruling council — which he chairs — for "mistakes" he made in assembling a now-scrapped $4.2 billion sell-off plan for the World Cup.

An Associated Press tally shows 87 of the 211 federations have indicated support for Infantino, either in individual comments or by endorsing statements of support by their regional confederations.

Sheikh Salman made passing reference to the turmoil in the Middle East and its affect on soccer in the region.

“We know that the world is changing and football, I think, gets affected as well from what’s happening," he said, "whether it’s political, economical or whatever it is.

"People are following the news, what's happening in the Middle East. It’s important for us.”

The Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January was going ahead despite deadly attacks in the country by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, said Muhammed Q. Alghamdi, a spokesman for the organizing committee. There is a rising fear of an escalation in hostilities.

The Asian Cup is set for Jan. 7-Feb. 5 with 24 teams playing matches in three cites — Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar. Reports suggest it may be too late to seek 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.”

See AP’s full soccer coverage here