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By African360 Sports
Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali bin Hussein has pledged to cooperate fully with any judicial review by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) following his criticism of the continental body’s recent congress and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Prince Ali’s comments follow an extraordinary AFC Congress in Tokyo, where AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa endorsed Infantino for re-election as FIFA president.
After the meeting, Prince Ali questioned the transparency of the proceedings, alleging that delegates had not been given opportunities to speak, ask questions or debate issues. He described the final day of the congress as “pure politics at the behest of Gianni Infantino”.
The AFC responded by saying that neither Prince Ali nor representatives of other member associations had requested to speak. It also said allegations involving coercion, threats or bribery must be supported by credible evidence and confirmed that Prince Ali’s statements would be referred to its judicial bodies.
Prince Ali clarifies his position
In a statement posted on X late Wednesday, Prince Ali said he respected the AFC and would cooperate with any review conducted by its judicial bodies.
He also stressed that the Jordan Football Association would exercise its voting rights independently in the upcoming FIFA presidential election.
Prince Ali explained that his earlier comments were intended to clarify the FIFA presidential voting process and underline the importance of transparency in football governance.
He said his reference to coercion, threats and bribery was intended as a statement of principle rather than an accusation against any specific individual.
Prince Ali added that any concerns should be addressed through the appropriate governing bodies and said he would not comment further while the matter remained under consideration.
AFC and FIFA leadership under scrutiny
The dispute comes as Infantino seeks another term as FIFA president, a position he has held since 2016.
The AFC’s endorsement represents a notable change in tone after the continental body previously criticised FIFA over a proposed commercial arrangement involving a stake in FIFA competitions. The proposal was subsequently abandoned, prompting criticism from within Asian football.
Prince Ali has previously been outspoken in his criticism of FIFA’s leadership, making his latest comments part of a broader debate about transparency, accountability and the independence of football’s governing institutions.
However, the AFC’s response makes clear that it disputes the suggestion that delegates were prevented from participating in the Tokyo congress.
Jordan insists on independent voting
Prince Ali’s statement also reaffirmed the Jordan Football Association’s right to make its own decision in the FIFA presidential election.
His position comes amid renewed attention on how continental confederations endorse candidates and how member associations exercise their voting rights.
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027, with Infantino seeking re-election.
For now, the focus remains on the AFC’s proposed judicial review and whether the process will clarify the circumstances surrounding the congress and Prince Ali’s public criticism.
The outcome could add to ongoing discussions about transparency and accountability in international football governance.
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