Former FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein has publicly criticized the organization’s leadership under Gianni Infantino, describing the unpaid prize money owed to his Jordan national team as a form of extortion.
Prince Ali stated that the Jordan Football Association has yet to receive funds corresponding to their performance in the FIFA Arab Cup, where they reached the final last December in Qatar.
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In a social media update, Prince Ali revealed that during the World Cup, in which Jordan participated for the first time in June, he was informed that if he backed FIFA president Infantino, it could positively impact the financial situation of their football association.
Infantino faces significant pressure to maintain his presidency, which has been marked by backlash from global football leaders regarding his unsuccessful plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to investors, including Joshua Kushner.
“In Jordan, we take pride in our ethical standards. We have not endorsed him in the past and will not do so now,” said Prince Ali, who finished third among five candidates in the FIFA presidential election that saw Infantino take office in February 2016.
“This entire scenario amounts to blackmail, and we will not yield to such tactics,” the Jordanian royal stated on Tuesday.
Reports indicate that the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup’s runner-up, Jordan, was due to receive $4.2 million following their defeat to Morocco in the final.
“The funds owed to our team for reaching the final have not yet been received,” noted Prince Ali, adding, “Meanwhile, FIFA boasts about its billions in reserves.”
“It is evident that leadership is the core issue. For months, FIFA has consistently refused to assist us on any of these matters,” he expressed.
FIFA has been contacted for a response regarding these allegations.
Previously, Prince Ali served on FIFA’s executive committee from 2011 to 2015 and opposed then-president Sepp Blatter in a May 2015 election held amid federal investigations into soccer officials.
Although Infantino appeared positioned for unopposed reelection for a fourth term leading FIFA through 2031, his departure from New York two weeks after the World Cup final marked a pivotal moment.
Repercussions from his recently unveiled private equity plan have shaken soccer governance, leading former colleagues at UEFA to consider alternative candidates. This proposal, backed by Kushner’s Thrive Eternal fund, offered $20 million to Jordan and other FIFA member nations if accepted by a September 19 deadline.
UEFA is threatening to boycott FIFA events and engagements, while football authorities from Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation—of which Jordan is a member—have also condemned Infantino.
FIFA has established a November 18 deadline for potential candidates to announce their candidacies ahead of the election for member federations on March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.
Asia is anticipated to play a critical role should a presidential contest emerge, with Europe and countries from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean aiming for Infantino’s ousting, while Africa, South America, and Oceania are expected to remain supportive of him.
This report includes contributions from the Associated Press and PA.