Qatar challenges AFC over open letter attacking FIFA President Infantino

play Live Sign upShow navigation menuNavigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedSportOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upSport|World CupQatar challenges AFC over open letter attacking FIFA President InfantinoQatar FA President Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani complains about lack of consultation about AFC open letter to FIFA. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoFIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, has received the backing of the President of the Qatar Football Association, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Than, right [File: Dylan Martinez/Reuters]By ReutersPublished On 14 Aug 202614 Aug 2026A growing rift within Asian ‌‌football over the future of FIFA has burst into the open, with Qatar challenging ⁠⁠the Asian Football ⁠⁠Confederation over its decision to join UEFA and CONCACAF in a sweeping attack on embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Qatar Football Association President Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani wrote ⁠⁠in a letter to AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa that neither he nor the QFA had been consulted before the three confederations issued an open letter on Monday ⁠⁠purporting to speak collectively for their members. Infantino, who is seeking re-election next year, has faced open revolt after UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF attacked his conduct and called for him to quit over his aborted bid to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. “A collective view must ‌‌first be ascertained; it cannot be presumed, and it cannot be brought into existence by declaration,” Al-Thani, an AFC Executive Committee member and FIFA Council member, wrote in the letter seen by the Reuters news agency. He asked the AFC to explain what consultation there had been and on what basis it considered itself authorised to speak collectively for its 47 member associations. The intervention exposes divisions within the AFC at ⁠⁠a critical moment in the battle over Infantino’s leadership. In his letter ⁠⁠to the AFC president, Al-Thani said, “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 comes after ⁠⁠six heads of Arab national football associations – including Qatar and ⁠⁠2030 World Cup co-hosts Morocco – backed Infantino on Thursday amid FIFA’s crisis following the failed private investment proposal. Four of the six signatories – Al-Thani, the head of Egypt’s football federation, Hany Abo Rida, Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa and Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya – are also 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 ‌‌said. Infantino proposed carving off the commercial rights to the World Cup and selling 20% to private investors to raise about $4.2bn before his U-turn following the furore. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: