Qatar challenges AFC over Infantino resignation call

The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has formally challenged the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over its decision to align with a joint statement that criticised FIFA President Gianni Infantino and urged him to resign.

In a letter dated August 14, 2026, QFA President Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani asked AFC leadership to clarify what internal process authorised the confederation to take that public position. The QFA said the AFC did not consult its member associations before joining UEFA and CONCACAF in the critical statement.

AFC process and authority at the centre of Qatar’s complaint Qatar framed its objection as a governance and procedure dispute rather than a direct argument about the merits of the criticism levelled at Infantino. The QFA questioned whether the AFC had the authority to speak on behalf of all its member associations on an issue as significant as calling for a resignation.

According to the QFA, the AFC’s participation in the joint statement was presented publicly as reflecting a collective Asian position, despite the lack of member input. The letter asked which approval route was used and what mechanism empowered the AFC to adopt a stance “in the name” of its full membership.

The report did not specify whether the AFC conducted an internal vote, relied on an executive decision, or used another governance pathway before endorsing the statement. It also did not describe any formal response from AFC officials to Qatar’s request for clarification.

The Qatar Football Association Commercial-rights proposal remains part of the wider backdrop The Qatar Football Association The disagreement comes amid broader criticism of Infantino connected to a now-abandoned commercial strategy proposal involving FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. That plan would have sold 20 percent of commercial rights to private investors. The stake was estimated to be valued at $4.2 billion. The AFC’s public condemnation of this proposal fed into a wider campaign questioning Infantino’s leadership and ultimately contributed to the joint statement issued alongside UEFA and CONCACAF. Qatar’s intervention, however, focused on the procedural mechanics of how the AFC adopted and communicated its position. The QFA’s stance, as described, was that the decision-making process matters when a confederation claims to represent a unified regional view. Signs of division ahead of Infantino’s re-election bid The episode is being watched inside Asian football as Infantino prepares for a re-election bid next year. The QFA letter suggests at least some member associations do not accept that there is a single AFC position regarding the FIFA president.

Qatar’s challenge also followed a separate declaration of support for Infantino signed by six Arab national football associations, including Morocco and Egypt. Those signatories, some of whom are FIFA Council members, cited Infantino’s efforts to expand global football opportunities as the basis for their backing.

It remains unclear how AFC leadership will respond to Qatar’s request, and whether the confederation will seek broader endorsement from member associations before taking future public positions on FIFA leadership.