Hashem Haidar, Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), announced that the chances of Swiss Gianni Infantino retaining his position as President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in March 2027 are secured. Haidar told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the AFC unequivocally and clearly supports Infantino’s candidacy for a fourth and final term, despite the sharp criticism the current president faced following his cancelled plan to sell World Cup rights.
Unwavering Asian Support
Haidar, who also serves as President of the Lebanese Football Association, noted that Infantino is in a strong position to secure his re-election after the AFC endorsed the 56-year-old’s candidacy last month. Infantino had previously stated that he enjoys the support of the vast majority of member associations, rejecting calls for his resignation, particularly from the European Union.
Tashima Competition
Despite the candidacy of Japanese Football Association Honorary President Kozo Tashima to challenge Infantino, Haidar described the Japanese contender’s chances as limited. He clarified that the FIFA presidency requires relationships across the entire globe, which is difficult for a single candidate to achieve. He continued: “If you are Asian, you might secure some Asian and African votes, but it is difficult to reach South and North America and other regions, despite my fondness for my friend Kozo Tashima.”
Tashima’s Expectations
For his part, the Japanese newspaper Sports Nippon quoted Tashima on Sunday as saying that his chances of winning currently range between 20% and 30%, but he hopes his confidence will rise to 40% or 50% as the campaign progresses. Tashima affirmed his genuine desire to change FIFA, while Infantino declined to speak to the media regarding these expectations.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
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