The Jordanian Football Association (JFA) has publicly accused FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino of blackmail, alleging unpaid prize money and political pressure. In a statement released on his official X account, JFA President Ali Al Hussein detailed a series of grievances that he says illustrate a pattern of unfair treatment by FIFA leadership toward Jordan.
Four Key Grievances Against FIFA
Al Hussein outlined four specific complaints. Firstly, he stated that FIFA provided no meaningful assistance to Jordanian fans who purchased World Cup tickets at high prices but were unable to secure the necessary visas to attend matches in the United States. Secondly, he claimed that funds belonging to Jordanian supporters at the World Cup were heavily taxed because the tournament was hosted in the United States, a burden not faced by fans in Canada and Mexico.
Thirdly, and most strikingly, he said FIFA has not paid Jordan its prize money for reaching the final of the FIFA Arab Cup in December 2025, despite the organisation publicly claiming to hold billions in financial reserves. Finally, Al Hussein alleged that during the World Cup, which marked Jordan's first-ever participation, he was verbally told that endorsing Infantino would help resolve the association's outstanding concerns. He rejected that suggestion outright.
Jordan Refuses to Endorse Infantino
Al Hussein concluded his statement by making clear that Jordan did not endorse Infantino previously and has no intention of doing so now. He described the approach as blackmail and said the association would not yield to it. The statement adds to the mounting pressure on Infantino, who is facing one of the most turbulent stretches of his tenure as FIFA president.
UEFA has been at the forefront of efforts to push the Swiss administrator out of office, and the abandoned FFE programme has drawn widespread criticism. Several member associations have already distanced themselves from Infantino ahead of next year's presidential election, while others continue to back him.
Wenger Clarifies FIFA Role
Legit.ng previously reported that Arsene Wenger clarified his role at FIFA after facing backlash from the media following Infantino's failed FFE. The former Arsenal manager, who has been the Chief of Global Football Development since 2019, claimed that he was not involved in the project.
