Jordan's Prince Ali disputes Asian backing for Infantino after AFC Congress
The Jordan FA chief says the Fifa president used the Tokyo congress for politics as Asia's confederation endorses him for a fourth term.
Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali bin Hussein has accused Fifa president Gianni Infantino of turning the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Tokyo into a political stage, the South China Morning Post reported.
The criticism came on Sunday, after the AFC endorsed Infantino on Friday for another term. ABC News described the endorsement as an apparent turnaround, as the confederation had criticised him two months earlier for a breach of trust.
The Post reported that Sheikh Salman told the congress Asia was now united behind Infantino. Prince Ali, a vocal critic of Fifa's leadership, rejected that account. He denied "that Asia has a united position when it comes to electing the next Fifa president", the Post reported.
The AFC's earlier dispute with Infantino was over the Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, which has since been abandoned. According to the Post, the confederation had accused him of a "fundamental breach of trust" over the plan. ABC News reported that the proposal would have sold stakes in World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary, and that it angered football leaders in Europe, North America and Asia.
Infantino is seeking a fourth and final term at an election in March. ABC News said he faces attempts to force him to stand down over the plan.
In an interview with the BBC at the Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, released on Saturday, Infantino dismissed calls to step down. "I was elected by 211 member associations from all over the world," he said, according to ABC News.
He said Fifa could hold different points of view, but that anyone serious about democracy needed to "respect as well the views of the vast, vast majority".
ABC News reported that Infantino apologised to Fifa's ruling council last week for "mistakes" in the investment plan. European delegates said they left that meeting disappointed by what they saw as a lack of clarity.
Opposition candidates have until November 18 to nominate for the Fifa presidency.
Sources: South China Morning Post, Jordan FA chief accuses Fifa head Infantino of turning AFC Congress into a political stage; ABC News, Infantino claims support of 'vast majority' of soccer ahead of FIFA elections.
