The president of the Jordan Football Association, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, has accused Gianni Infantino's administration of using 'blackmail' to force support for his re-election bid. In a statement published on X, Prince Ali claimed that Fifa threatened to withhold financial assistance from his federation unless he endorsed Infantino for a fourth term. The accusation comes amid growing dissent within the global football governing body, as key allies distance themselves from a failed investment plan.
Unpaid players and withheld funds
Prince Ali, who finished third in the 2016 Fifa presidential election against Infantino, highlighted that Jordan's players have not been paid for their appearance at the Arab Cup in Qatar last year. 'We have been waiting for reward money for our players since December for the Arab Cup in Qatar, which is a Fifa event,' his statement read. 'The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet, while at the same time Fifa brags about how many billions they have in reserve.'
He also noted that some Jordanian fans had not received visas for the World Cup, despite purchasing tickets, and expressed frustration at being taxed by the US for being based there. 'It is clear the problem really is with leadership. For months, Fifa has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters – until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out,' Prince Ali stated.
Key allies distance themselves
The intervention came on a day when Infantino's authority was further undermined. Fifa's secretary general, Mattias Grafström, was revealed to have called the failed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) a 'sad and reproachable series of events' in an email to staff. Meanwhile, Arsène Wenger, Fifa's chief of global development, said the project's withdrawal was 'absolutely necessary and beyond question'.
Grafström's email urged staff to maintain morale, saying: '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.' He referred to 'a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept' but stressed that 'individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue.'
Wenger speaks out
Wenger, who assumed his role in November 2019, confirmed he was not involved in the FFE plan. 'I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports,' he said. 'The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent Fifa that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.'
Growing loss of support
Infantino is steadily losing backing from federations that had previously endorsed his continuation. Greece is the latest to pull support, following England, Wales, Finland, and Serbia. More European federations are expected to follow, and several Concacaf nations are considering withdrawing their backing. Prince Ali, who heads the West Asian Football Federation, including influential states like Qatar and the UAE, has so far not endorsed Infantino, and his statement suggests he will not do so.
Other countries are understood to have been pressured to formally back Infantino before the Fifa election in March, though details remain unclear. Fifa was contacted for comment regarding Prince Ali's accusations.
