Infantino dismisses exit talk citing 211 votes and Asian backing

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he holds the backing of 211 member associations.

Infantino made the claim in an interview with the BBC, where he laughed when asked if he had considered resigning. He argued that the support of the vast majority of nations should carry weight in a democratic organization.

His position strengthened on Friday when Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the Asian Football Confederation, endorsed Infantino for a fourth term. Sheikh Salman stated that Asia is united behind the current president.

The endorsement comes after the Asian confederation and the European Union of Football Associations previously criticized the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. That plan sought private investment for a new entity controlling commercial rights. Infantino abandoned the initiative after facing calls to step down approximately three months ago.

The shift in stance by the Asian Football Confederation has left European opposition increasingly isolated. A divided North American and Caribbean confederation also failed to present a unified front. No viable alternative candidate for the presidency has emerged to date.

Infantino, a 56-year-old Swiss-Italian administrator, recently returned from Tokyo and Cape Verde. In both locations, he said he received full endorsement from local associations. He is currently engaging with football bodies worldwide to secure support for a term that would run through 2031.

Nominations for the presidency are due by November 18. Infantino apologized at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich last week for the handling of the failed commercial plan. That gesture did not change the position of European associations, including those from Germany and England. Infantino said he respects differing opinions and left the final decision to the member associations.