AMMAN — HRH Prince Ali, president of the Jordan Football Association (JFA), has accused FIFA's leadership of financial inequities, political blackmailing and ethical misconduct in a strongly worded statement posted on his X account.

 

Prince Ali said Jordan, which qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history, faced significant challenges despite the milestone achievement.

 

"We are a small country with a minimal budget for our FA and had to deal with enormous hurdles," he wrote.

 

Among the issues the Prince highlighted were visa difficulties for Jordanian supporters traveling to the United States, saying some fans who had purchased match tickets were denied entry visas. He also criticized what he described as excessively high ticket prices.

 

The JFA president also said that that Jordan has been subjected to US taxation through FIFA because the national team was based in the United States during the tournament, unlike teams that established camps in Canada or Mexico.

 

"Money that should go to players and staff" is instead being lost to taxes, he said.

 

Prince Ali also accused FIFA of delaying prize payments owed to Jordan's players for reaching the final of the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar. He said that the association has been waiting since December for the funds to be released.

 

He contrasted the delay with FIFA's reported financial reserves, saying the organisation continues to "brag about how many billions they have in reserve."

 

Prince Ali also said that FIFA officials linked assistance for the Jordan Football Association to his political support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of the governing body's next presidential election.

 

"It was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out," he wrote.

 

Describing the request as "blackmail," Prince Ali said Jordan would not compromise its principles.

 

"We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now," he said.

 

Prince Ali said that football's governing body is facing "a clear-cut crisis in leadership" and called for reforms to FIFA's presidential election process.

 

He urged the organisation to abolish the secret ballot used in presidential elections, arguing that votes should be conducted openly to improve accountability and protect member associations from coercion.

 

"Every other decision, including hosting the World Cup, is now done openly, except, of course, for presidential elections," he wrote.

 

Prince Ali also said that transparent voting would allow presidents of FIFA's member associations to be accountable to their football communities while reducing the possibility of pressure behind closed doors.

 

"It will empower each and every MA on the most critical vote we have — the leadership of the biggest and most popular sport in the world and the direction it takes in the future," he said.