In a recent statement, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, a former FIFA vice‑president, charged that Gianni Infantino’s administration has been withholding a $4.2 million prize‑money payment owed to Jordan for its run to the Arab Cup final in Qatar last December.
A Claim of Blackmail
Jordanian officials say the sum was earmarked for the national team after they reached the tournament’s championship match, but FIFA has yet to disburse the funds, leaving the Jordanian Football Association scrambling for financial clarity.
The controversy resurfaced when Prince Ali revealed he was pressured to publicly back Infantino during Jordan’s historic World Cup debut in June, a request he declined on the grounds of ethical integrity.
Pressure Mounts on FIFA’s Governance
Infantino, now in the fourth year of an 11‑year tenure, is under fire for a separate proposal to sell a slice of World Cup revenues to private investors, a plan that would have injected $20 million into FIFA’s coffers if ratified by September 19.
European and North American confederations, UEFA and CONCACAF, have threatened to boycott FIFA events unless the private‑equity scheme is abandoned, a move that could destabilize the federation’s finances and reputation.
Critics argue that Infantino’s strategy reflects a broader shift toward commercialization that could marginalize smaller footballing nations, a concern echoed by Prince Ali, who served on FIFA’s executive committee from 2011 to 2015 and contested Sepp Blatter’s re‑election in 2015 amid corruption probes.
The next FIFA election is scheduled for March 18 in Morocco, with a November 18 deadline for candidate declarations from the 211 member federations, setting the stage for a contested battle that could reshape the sport’s governing body.