The Asian Football Confederation has endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as president of FIFA, according to BBC Sport and the Associated Press, whose report ran on ABC News.

The group's president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, gave his backing at a meeting of the confederation in Tokyo on Friday, the AP reported. Infantino was at the meeting. Sheikh Salman hugged Infantino in front of the members as he spoke, the AP said.

"Your support to Gianni is very clear," Sheikh Salman said, according to BBC Sport. He said it was time "to move forward."

The support is a sharp turnaround, BBC Sport and the AP reported. In August, the Asian group joined the soccer bodies of Europe and of North and Central America in criticizing Infantino. The AP said they accused him of a "fundamental breach of trust." The dispute was over a failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, BBC Sport said.

Sheikh Salman said not every member would follow his lead, but that most would, the AP reported. "My feeling is, I'm sure, the feeling of most of my members," he said.

"I feel great about the AFC's support," Infantino said later, according to BBC Sport.

The FIFA election will be held in March, BBC Sport and the AP reported. The deadline to file against Infantino is November 18, and no one has filed so far. BBC Sport said he could run unopposed. A win would give him a fourth and final term.

BBC Sport said Asia will have 46 votes in the election. Europe will have 55 and Africa 54. Infantino already has strong support in Africa and South America, BBC Sport reported.

Last week, Infantino apologized for the World Cup sale plan, BBC Sport reported. Europe's soccer body has since asked FIFA to release key papers by November 2.

What we know: The Asian Football Confederation's president endorsed Infantino for a new term.
What we don't: Whether anyone will file to run against him before the November 18 deadline.