Football

AFC president criticizes Qatar Football Association over Infantino support

Asian Football Confederation leader Sheikh Salman expressed displeasure with Qatar's backing of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, citing concerns over continental unity.

12:18 PM

Scottish Football Association withdraws support for FIFA president Infantino

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has expressed displeasure with the Qatar Football Association (QFA) for supporting FIFA President Gianni Infantino, according to reports on Tuesday.

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa sent a letter to the QFA outlining his concerns. "At a time when continental solidarity is of paramount importance, your current stance and actions, which call into question the legitimate authority of the AFC president, only undermine the unity of Asian football, weakening our collective ability to defend the interests of the Asian football family on the global arena," he wrote.

The football federations of Morocco, Qatar, and four other Arab countries have publicly expressed their support for Infantino. The backing comes as Infantino has proposed a scheme to sell a share of FIFA World Cup commercial rights to private investors, an announcement he made on July 30.

The AFC president's letter suggests that the QFA's position is viewed as undermining broader Asian football interests and the authority of continental leadership.

Related Articles