FIFA ACCUSED OF USING ‘BLACKMAIL’ TO FORCE SUPPORT FOR INFANTINO’S RE-ELECTION BID

Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, the president of the Jordan Football Association, publicly accused FIFA of using "blackmail" by threatening to withhold financial assistance if he did not support Gianni Infantino’s bid for re‑election as FIFA president. The claim was made in a statement reported by The Guardian.

According to The Guardian, Prince Ali said FIFA had warned that Jordan would be cut off from funds unless it backed Infantino. He added that Jordan’s players had not been paid for participating in last year’s Arab Cup and noted that the West Asian Football Federation, which he chairs and includes Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, has largely backed Infantino. The report also quoted FIFA’s Secretary General as calling a “sell‑off plan” described elsewhere “sad and reproachable.” Prince Ali’s own campaign against Infantino in the 2016 election, where he finished third, underscores the personal nature of the dispute.

The allegations highlight ongoing concerns about FIFA’s governance and financial practices, themes echoed in related coverage of FIFA’s failed equity plan and the wider welfare crisis affecting football players.

• Prince Ali accuses FIFA of threatening to withhold funding as a condition for political support.
• Jordan’s players remain unpaid for the 2023 Arab Cup, adding to federation grievances.
• FIFA Secretary General criticized a sell‑off plan as “sad and reproachable,” reflecting internal disagreement.

Read the original source for full detail available at The Guardian src