Qatar challenges AFC over open letter attacking FIFA President Infantino

Qatar FA President Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani complains about lack of consultation about AFC open letter to FIFA.A 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" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="185517" data-entity-type="organization">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.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Russia stance will be defended in court, pledges World Athletics chief Coelist 2 of 4Rising Australian golfer Bang dies of brain haemorrhage in Thailand aged 18list 3 of 4Man City tight-lipped on Rodri transfer amid Barcelona and Real Madrid linklist 4 of 4La Liga: Five key talking points heading into Barcelona’s 2026-27 seasonend of listInfantino, 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.