A dispute over prize money and leadership
Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, a former FIFA vice president, has publicly accused Gianni Infantino of using what he calls "blackmail" to withhold a promised $4.2 million prize payout from Jordan’s national team after the squad reached the final of the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.
Jordan’s achievement in the Arab Cup was overshadowed by the non‑payment, a situation that Prince Ali says reflects a broader pattern of refusal by FIFA to assist the country on financial and governance issues that have persisted for months.
The dispute is set against the backdrop of Infantino’s controversial plan to sell FIFA’s World Cup profits to private investors, a proposal backed by Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Eternal fund that would have distributed $20 million to member nations if it had been approved by a September deadline.
The scheme has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, all of which have threatened to boycott FIFA events, while Jordan has joined other confederations in speaking out against Infantino’s presidency.
Prince Ali’s refusal to endorse Infantino stems from his commitment to what he describes as ethical values, a stance that has put him at odds with the FIFA leadership he once served on the executive committee alongside.
Adding to the tension, the next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18 in Morocco, with a November 18 deadline for candidates to declare their candidacy among the 211 member federations, a timeline that could shape the future direction of global football governance.