Prince Ali Criticizes FIFA Leadership Amid Prize Money Dispute

Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, former FIFA vice president, has openly criticized the leadership of FIFA under Gianni Infantino. Prince Ali highlighted that his Jordan national team is still awaiting the prize money owed for reaching the final of the FIFA Arab Cup held in Qatar last December.

In a recent social media post, Prince Ali claimed that during the World Cup, he was approached to endorse FIFA President Gianni Infantino. He was told such an endorsement could benefit the Jordanian Football Association.

Gianni Infantino is currently facing challenges regarding his long-term presidency. There is backlash over his unsuccessful attempt to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to investors led by Joshua Kushner.

Prince Ali emphasized Jordan’s commitment to ethical values, stating, “We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now.” He described the situation as a form of blackmail, expressing refusal to yield to such tactics.

Unpaid Prize Money

The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup saw Jordan as runners-up against Morocco, promising $4.2 million to the defeated finalist, as reported by Jordanian media. Despite this, Prince Ali noted that the funds have not been received. He criticized FIFA’s reluctance to resolve financial and other issues while maintaining substantial reserves.

FIFA’s Leadership Concerns

FIFA has yet to respond to these allegations. Prince Ali’s history with FIFA includes serving on the executive committee from 2011 to 2015 and running against Sepp Blatter in 2015 amidst corruption investigations.

Infantino, who seemed set for unopposed re-election for a fourth term, faces resistance due to a secretive private equity plan. This plan, backed by Kushner’s Thrive Eternal fund, promised $20 million to Jordan and other FIFA members if they agreed by a set deadline. However, the plan’s revelation caused discontent among soccer politics.

UEFA, along with CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, has expressed concerns. UEFA is even threatening boycotts of FIFA events. FIFA has set an election candidate deadline for November 18, with the election scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.

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