Qatar confronts the AFC regarding an open letter that criticizes FIFA president Infantino
A significant divide has emerged within Asian soccer regarding the future of FIFA, as Qatar openly confronts the Asian Football Confederation over its choice to align with UEFA and CONCACAF in a bold critique of the beleaguered FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Qatar Football Association President Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani expressed in a letter to AFC President Sheik Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa that neither he nor the QFA had been consulted prior to the issuance of an open letter on Monday by the three confederations, which claimed to represent their members collectively.
Infantino, who is aiming for reelection next year, has encountered significant backlash after UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF criticized his actions and urged him to resign over his failed attempt to introduce private investment into FIFA competitions such as the World Cup.
A collective view must first be determined; it cannot be assumed, nor can it be created through mere declaration,” Al-Thani, an AFC Executive Committee member and FIFA Council member, stated in the letter reviewed by Reuters.
He inquired of the AFC to clarify the consultations that had occurred and the rationale behind its belief that it was authorized to represent its 47 member associations collectively.
The AFC chose not to provide a comment when reached out to by Reuters.
Significant separations
The intervention reveals rifts within the AFC at a pivotal time in the struggle for Infantino’s leadership.
In his letter to the AFC president, Al-Thani stated, “Neither the QFA nor I personally … was consulted, whether formally or informally, prior to the issuance of the statement. ” No advance notice was given, no draft was circulated, and no opportunity was afforded to comment on, or contribute to, its content before it was released publicly in AFC’s name and on behalf of AFC’s members.
The challenge arises after six leaders of Arab national football associations, including Qatar and Morocco, co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup, expressed their support for Infantino on Thursday amid FIFA’s crisis stemming from the unsuccessful private investment proposal.
Four of the six signatories—Al-Thani, the head of Egypt’s football federation; Hany Abo Rida, Morocco’s; Fouzi Lekjaa, Mauritania’s; and Ahmed Yahya—also are FIFA Council members. “We deeply appreciate Mr. Infantino’s sustained efforts to advance football globally, expand opportunities across all regions, and strengthen the game’s role in bringing people and communities together,” they stated.
Infantino suggested selling 20% of the commercial rights to the World Cup to private investors in order to generate approximately $4.2 billion but later reversed this decision amid the backlash.
