Rift deepens as Asia football chief hits back at Qatar in Infantino saga

Asia's football chief, Gianni Infantino, faced renewed criticism last week after a letter from Uefa, Concacaf, and the AFC asserted that football belongs to no single individual. The region's top official responded to a Qatari challenge over the confederation's decision to join Uefa and Concacaf in targeting Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

Infantino's initial plan to introduce private investment into Fifa competitions, including World Cups, drew harsh criticism, leading to his renewed fire. Qatar's Football Association president, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, accused Infantino's critics of wanting him to resign over the failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. The Qatari chief demanded an explanation for the lack of consultation and questioned the AFC's authority to speak for its 47 member associations, including Qatar.

Infantino's Bahraini counterpart, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, denied exceeding his authority, stating that he acted within the AFC's constitutional mandate and refused to back down from his position. The AFC, Concacaf, and Uefa have consistently condemned Infantino's sell-off proposal and have remained vocal even after shelving the plan.

The confederations criticized Infantino's leadership, highlighting a lack of accountability and openness under his rule.