Former FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein has accused FIFA, led by Gianni Infantino, of withholding prize money due to his Jordan national team. He labeled the situation as a form of blackmail. The Jordanian federation, headed by Prince Ali, has yet to receive payment for reaching the final of the FIFA Arab Cup held last December in Qatar.
In a recent post on social media, Prince Ali stated he was told during the World Cup that endorsing Gianni Infantino might benefit the Jordanian Football Association. Infantino is currently facing challenges to his 11-year presidency, following backlash over his unsuccessful plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to investors led by Joshua Kushner.
“We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now,” said Prince Ali, who had placed third in the five-candidate FIFA presidential election when Infantino was initially elected in February 2016. “But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that,” he added.
FIFA Arab Cup Prize Money Dispute
The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup saw Jordan lose to Morocco in the title match, with the Jordanian media reporting last year that the runner-up was owed $4.2 million. “The money our team should receive for reaching the final has not been delivered yet,” Prince Ali mentioned, critiquing FIFA’s boasting about its substantial financial reserves.
According to Prince Ali, FIFA has shirked responsibilities on this and other issues for months. FIFA has been contacted for comments on these allegations.
Background on Prince Ali’s FIFA Involvement
Prince Ali served on FIFA’s executive committee from 2011 to 2015, having been elected by Asian soccer. He stood against then-president Sepp Blatter in a May 2015 election, which took place amidst investigations by U.S. and Swiss federal agencies. Initially, Infantino appeared poised to be re-elected unopposed for another term by 2031.
The recent unveiling of a controversial private equity plan has unsettled soccer politics, with Infantino’s former colleagues in the UEFA now seeking an opposing candidate. This proposal, backed by Kushner’s Thrive Eternal fund, offered $20 million to Jordan and other FIFA members if they agreed by a September deadline.
UEFA has also threatened to boycott FIFA events. Similarly, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, of which Jordan is a member, have criticized Infantino. FIFA has set a deadline of November 18 for candidates to declare for the election of 211 member federations scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.
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