{
  "id": 1681385,
  "title": "Asian football split deepens as Qatar challenges anti-Infantino move",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/asian-football-split-deepens-as-qatar-challenges-anti-infantino-move",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T08:59:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2026/08/18/asian-football-split-deepens-as-qatar-challenges-anti-infantino-move/231799"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — The rift within Asian football intensified on Tuesday as the region's top authority fiercely contested Qatar's contention regarding the confederation's decision to join Uefa and Concacaf in targeting Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Infantino has faced intense criticism since unveiling and subsequently abandoning a plan to introduce private investment into Fifa competitions, including World Cups. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the other two confederations, Uefa and Concacaf, joined forces to dismiss Infantino's initiative in a letter, asserting that \"football belongs to no individual.\"\n\nQatar's football chief, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, expressed disappointment in a letter to the AFC, questioning why neither he nor the QFA were consulted before the joint statement was released. He demanded clarification on the AFC's authority to speak for all 47 member associations, including Qatar. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa defended his actions, stating that he acted within the legal mandate granted to him by the AFC's constitution. He emphasized the importance of protecting the sport's interests and values and rejected suggestions that his involvement in the joint statement was unauthorized. The AFC, Concacaf, and Uefa have consistently criticized Infantino's sell-off plan, even after it was abandoned. In a joint letter, the three confederations criticized Infantino for his leadership style, stating that \"there is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness.\" Despite the criticism, Infantino has maintained his position as president, receiving backing from top Fifa officials in an emergency meeting held in Morocco two weeks prior.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — A damaging split within Asian football deepened Tuesday as the region’s top off...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}