The president of the Jordan Football Association, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, has formally accused the administration of FIFA president Gianni Infantino of employing “blackmail” tactics. Prince Ali claims that the global football governing body has threatened to withhold essential financial assistance from his federation unless he agrees to support Infantino’s campaign for re-election.
In a significant public intervention, Prince Ali—who previously challenged Infantino for the presidency in 2016—detailed a series of grievances. Among these, he noted that Jordanian players have yet to receive their prize money for participating in last year’s Arab Cup in Qatar. Prince Ali, who also leads the West Asian Football Federation, described a pattern of obstruction, stating that FIFA has refused to assist with various administrative matters, such as visa issues for fans, until it was communicated that an endorsement of Infantino would resolve these problems. He emphasized that Jordan refuses to yield to this pressure, citing the country's commitment to ethical values.
This accusation arrives as Infantino faces increasing internal pressure following the collapse of a controversial World Cup private investment initiative. It came on a day when Infantino’s authority was dealt a further blow as two more key allies distanced themselves from his failed World Cup private investment plan. FIFA secretary general and his No 2, Mattias Grafström, was revealed to have called the botched "Fifa Forward Enterprise" a “sad and reproachable series of events” in an internal email to staff. While Grafström urged employees to maintain composure and focus on the institution's mission, he acknowledged the current turmoil surrounding the organization.
Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global development, also weighed in on the abandoned project, stating that its withdrawal was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.” Wenger, who joined FIFA in November 2019, noted that he was not involved in the strategic planning of the investment scheme and only learned of it through media reports, stressing his belief in an independent organization that operates with integrity.
Reports indicate that Infantino has summoned FIFA staff to a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco, as he attempts to stabilize his leadership position ahead of the election scheduled for March. FIFA has been contacted for comment regarding the specific allegations made by Prince Ali, who noted that other nations are also believed to be under pressure to provide formal endorsements for the incumbent president.
“A sad and reproachable series of events – which were thankfully concluded with the FFE project permanently abandoned – for as much as we feel dismayed by them, should not overshadow this reality,” read a section of the email.
He referred to “a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept” and said: “Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue, and that is why we should always keep our professionalism, sense of perspective and composure.”
