Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, president of the Jordanian Football Association (JFA) and a member of Jordan’s royal family, has publicly criticized FIFA over what he describes as mistreatment of football officials during the recent World Cup, unpaid prize money, and alleged coercive tactics aimed at influencing votes in favor of Gianni Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential election.
In a detailed social media post, Prince Ali highlighted several challenges faced by the Jordanian FA as they participated in the World Cup for the first time. He emphasized the significant obstacles encountered by a small football association with limited resources, particularly regarding fan access and financial burdens.
Among the issues raised was the difficulty in securing visas for Jordanian fans traveling to the United States, despite their possession of official tickets, which were reportedly sold at inflated prices. Additionally, the Jordanian team was subjected to taxation by the U.S. government through FIFA, a cost reportedly not imposed on teams based in Canada or Mexico during the tournament.
Unpaid Prize Money and Political Pressure
Prince Ali also brought attention to the ongoing delay in receiving prize money owed to Jordan’s players, which had been pending since December. The Jordan FA head accused FIFA of leveraging this unpaid reward to exert pressure on football associations, insinuating that withholding funds served as a form of “blackmail” to sway votes in favor of Infantino.
This controversy unfolds against the backdrop of a turbulent period within FIFA, marked by the rejection of Infantino’s plan to privatize 20% of the commercial rights for the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. The growing internal strife within the organization appears to be spilling over into the treatment of member associations and their officials.
Prince Ali’s statement offers a rare and candid glimpse into the grievances of national football bodies struggling under FIFA’s current governance, as well as the complexities smaller nations face in the global football landscape.