The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has criticised the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for issuing a joint statement on FIFA governance without consulting its member associations, calling for greater transparency.
In a letter to AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani said Qatar was neither formally nor informally consulted before the AFC joined UEFA and CONCACAF in issuing the 10 August statement in the name of the AFC and its member associations.
According to Qatar News Agency, the QFA said it received no advance notice or draft and was given no opportunity to contribute to the statement before its publication.
“The issuance of a statement speaking on behalf of the AFC members without consulting them raises questions about the mechanism followed in adopting such positions,” Al-Thani wrote.
The QFA has requested a written explanation detailing whether consultations took place, how member associations were notified and on what basis the AFC presented the statement as a collective position.
Al-Thani said positions presented on behalf of AFC members should follow a clear consultation process and argued that consensus should not be assumed without seeking the views of national associations.
The intervention follows a rare public challenge to FIFA leadership by UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF.
The three confederations accused FIFA of a “fundamental breach of trust” over its handling of a proposal to sell an interest in World Cup commercial rights to private equity investors.
They said the dispute concerned “the integrity of the game” and called for greater accountability from FIFA’s leadership.
FIFA has apologised for mistakes surrounding the proposal and said the plan is now “off the table”. Senior FIFA officials have also reaffirmed their support for President Gianni Infantino.
The dispute has exposed divisions within international football. While the AFC joined the criticism of FIFA, Qatar’s intervention suggests the position does not necessarily have unanimous support among its members.
Infantino, who is reportedly seeking re-election in March 2027, continues to receive backing from several national football associations and the Confederation of African Football.
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