Prince Ali pledges cooperation over AFC Congress dispute

Jordan Football Association chief Prince Ali bin Hussein says he will cooperate with any Asian Football Confederation judicial review of his remarks about last week’s AFC Congress. He had accused Fifa president Gianni Infantino of hijacking the meeting for political purposes.

The AFC said on Tuesday it would refer Prince Ali’s statements to its judicial bodies. Responding in a post on X late on Wednesday, Prince Ali said: “I respect the AFC and its judicial bodies and will cooperate fully with any process.”

Dispute over Congress proceedings

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa endorsed Infantino for reelection at the confederation’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo. After the meeting, Prince Ali alleged that delegates had not been allowed to speak, ask questions or debate matters, and described the final day as “pure politics at the behest of Gianni Infantino”.

The AFC disputed that account, saying neither Prince Ali nor representatives of any other member association had requested to speak. It also said allegations involving coercion, threats or bribery should be supported by credible evidence.

Fifa did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on Prince Ali’s earlier remarks. The AFC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on his latest post.

Prince Ali clarifies his remarks

Prince Ali said his earlier post was intended to explain the Fifa presidential voting process and stress the importance of transparency in football governance. He also said the Jordan Football Association would cast its vote in the Fifa presidential election independently, as provided for by the Fifa Statutes.

“Its final sentence states a principle the whole football family shares: no election should be open to coercion, threats or bribery. I stand by that principle. It was a statement of principle, not an allegation against any person,” he said.

Prince Ali added that the competent bodies were the proper place to address concerns. He said he would make no further comment while the matter remained under consideration.

What happens next

The AFC has said it will refer the statements to its judicial bodies, and Prince Ali has pledged to cooperate with any process. Infantino, who has led Fifa since 2016, is seeking reelection in March.

The AFC’s endorsement of Infantino followed a change in its position: three months earlier, it had accused Fifa of a “fundamental breach of trust” over an abandoned proposal to sell a stake in Fifa competitions. Infantino has apologised for that proposal.