Prince Ali ben Al Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Association, accused FIFA President Gianni Infantino of blackmail on Tuesday over withheld support for his federation. In a post on X, the former FIFA vice-president listed several grievances against FIFA leadership. Prince Ali was an unsuccessful candidate against Infantino during the 2016 presidential election.
The Jordanian official cited visa issues for supporters traveling to the United States for the World Cup, alongside taxes imposed by the U.S. government. He also highlighted unpaid player bonuses from the Arab Cup held in Qatar in December 2025. Prince Ali said FIFA leadership created the real problem by refusing to assist on these matters for months.
Allegations of Conditional FIFA Support
According to Prince Ali, FIFA officials told him orally during the World Cup that supporting Infantino would help resolve the federation's issues. He stated that Jordan takes pride in defending ethical values, had not backed Infantino before, and will not do so now. He added that the situation amounts to blackmail and confirmed Jordan refuses to yield to it.
The criticism comes as an increasing number of figures distance themselves from Infantino. Several European federations have officially withdrawn their support for his re-election.
