FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces fresh allegations of blackmail from the president of the Jordan Football Association, Prince Ali bin Hussein, in a scathing statement released on Wednesday. The accusation comes amid mounting pressure on Infantino following the leak of plans to sell $3.1 billion in World Cup stakes, a proposal he has since scrapped after widespread opposition.
Background: World Cup Stake Sale and Internal Rebellion
The controversy began last week when details emerged of a proposed deal to sell a significant portion of World Cup commercial rights. The plan, valued at £3.1 billion, was met with immediate backlash from within FIFA and its confederations. Infantino withdrew the proposal after an internal rebellion, but the damage to his leadership has been substantial.
UEFA and CONCACAF, the governing bodies for European and North/Central American football, have both declared no confidence in Infantino and are calling for his resignation. Jordan is now the first Asian nation to join the revolt, bringing the total number of opposing nations to 91, assuming all UEFA and CONCACAF member associations follow their continental bodies' stance. To force Infantino out, 106 nations are required.
Jordan's Grievances: Visa Issues, Taxation, and Unpaid Prize Money
In his statement, Prince Ali detailed multiple grievances against FIFA, highlighting the challenges Jordan faced as a first-time World Cup participant. He noted that many Jordanian fans were denied US visas despite holding tickets, which were also sold at exorbitant prices. Additionally, Jordan was taxed by the US government through FIFA for participation, a burden not placed on teams based in Canada and Mexico.
Most critically, Prince Ali revealed that Jordan's players have been waiting since December for prize money from the Arab Cup in Qatar, a FIFA-sanctioned event. The funds for reaching the final have not been disbursed, even as FIFA boasts of its financial reserves.
Accusation of Blackmail and Refusal to Endorse
Prince Ali alleged that FIFA's refusal to address these issues was linked to his endorsement of Infantino for a fourth term. He claimed that during the World Cup, he was verbally told that endorsing Infantino would help Jordan's FA. Prince Ali stated, "We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that."
The statement underscores a growing divide within global football governance, with smaller nations feeling marginalized by FIFA's leadership. The coming weeks may see further defections as the threshold for a vote of no confidence approaches.
