Infantino dismisses resignation talk as AFC backs bid for fourth Fifa term

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has rejected suggestions he considered resigning after the collapse of the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, saying the “vast, vast majority” of member associations support him.

Infantino abandoned plans for private investment in a new entity that would have controlled commercial rights connected to major Fifa competitions three months ago, prompting calls for him to step down.

However, his position has since strengthened, with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa endorsing Infantino for a fourth term and saying Asia was united behind him.

Infantino, speaking to the BBC, was asked whether he had thought about resigning.

“I was elected by 211 member associations from all over the world. I think what is important is that in an organisation like Fifa, there can be different views, different points of view,” he said, laughing off the suggestion.

“But if we are serious about democracy, about the democratic process, about believing that everyone has the same vote and the same voice all over the world, that football belongs to everyone … then we need to respect as well the views of the vast, vast majority.”

Infantino said he had recently returned from Tokyo, where the AFC had fully endorsed him, and had also visited Cape Verde, where all African countries had backed him.

“I’m speaking to all associations everywhere in the world,” he added.

The AFC had previously criticised the FFE proposal alongside Uefa and Concacaf, the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

But the AFC’s change of position, combined with divisions within Concacaf, has left European football increasingly isolated. It has also highlighted the absence of an alternative candidate viewed as capable of challenging Infantino for the Fifa presidency.

The 56-year-old Swiss-Italian administrator is seeking to remain in office until 2031. Anyone wishing to stand against him must submit a nomination by November 18.

Infantino apologised at a Fifa Council meeting in Zurich last week for the way the FFE proposal had been handled. That apology did not persuade European associations including Germany and England to change their position.

“It’s OK to disagree … but then we need to be able to move on,” Infantino said.

“There are different points of view. It’s not always easy to bring them all under one roof, but we need to respect and I do respect all opinions all views,” he added.

“Then it will be up to the Fifa member associations to decide who they want as a president and how they want Fifa to be run.”