Qatar Opposes AFC Move Against FIFA President
Qatar has questioned the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over its decision to support a letter criticising FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Qatar Football Association president Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani said his organisation was not consulted before the AFC backed the letter. He also questioned whether the statement could represent all 47 AFC member associations when Qatar had not been asked for its position.
The dispute follows criticism from several major football confederations over Infantino’s leadership. The European, Asian and North American governing bodies have raised concerns about a proposal involving FIFA’s commercial rights. The proposal has since been dropped.
Qatar has taken a different position from the AFC. Its football association was among a group of Arab football bodies that publicly expressed support for Infantino and his leadership of FIFA.
The disagreement has created an unusual split within Asian football. While the AFC has joined criticism of the FIFA president, some of its member associations have openly backed him.
Gianni Infantino is expected to seek another term as FIFA president. The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027, meaning the dispute could become part of a wider debate about the organisation’s future leadership.
The issue is also notable for Qatar, which has built a major role in international football since hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Qatar AFC dispute shows that football politics in Asia remain divided as associations consider how FIFA should be governed and led.
