Full Breakdown
Prince Ali Accuses AFC Congress of “Pure Politics” at Infantino’s Direction
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is seeking a fourth term despite controversy surrounding the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) previously labeled a “fundamental breach of trust.” In August, Jordan Football Association (Jordan’s Football Association (JFA)) chief Prince Ali bin Hussein publicly accused Infantino of “blackmail,” alleging that FIFA offered assistance to Jordan in exchange for his endorsement. Two days later, Prince Ali confirmed that Jordan’s players and staff received outstanding reward money for their participation in the 2025 Arab Cup.
Core Event: Prince Ali’s Tokyo Remarks
“Having come back from Tokyo where the AFC Congress took place, the first two days were about football, which we all serve. The last day was pure politics at the behest of Gianni Infantino,” — Prince Ali
Official Statements & Responses
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa endorsed Infantino’s re-election bid during the congress, declaring that Asia was united behind the FIFA president. Neither FIFA nor the AFC provided comment to Al Jazeera at the time of publication.
Financial Dispute
The JFA has been awaiting prize money for Jordan’s appearance in the Arab Cup final in Qatar since December of the previous year. The delay was highlighted by Prince Ali as part of broader concerns about governance and accountability within FIFA and its confederations.
Impact on the FIFA Election Landscape
The AFC endorsement is viewed as a significant boost to Infantino’s re-election prospects, further isolating European stakeholders and underscoring the absence of a viable challenger. Prince Ali’s allegations raise questions about the transparency of the voting process, which formally rests with each member association rather than confederation presidents.