Jordan FA Chief Faces AFC Judicial Review Over Infantino Remarks

The Asian Football Confederation has opened a judicial review of comments made by Prince Ali bin Hussein, the head of the Jordan Football Association. The review follows a dispute stemming from the recent extraordinary congress held in Tokyo.

Prince Ali announced that the Jordan FA will fully cooperate with the AFC's internal judicial bodies. He stated that his initial remarks were intended to clarify the voting process for the FIFA presidency and to stress the need for transparency in governance. He described his criticism of the final day of proceedings as a shared principle against coercion, threats, or bribery in elections.

The conflict began when AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa used the Tokyo congress to endorse FIFA President Gianni Infantino for re-election. Prince Ali argued that Infantino seized control of the event for political advantage. He claimed that delegates were prevented from speaking, questioning, or debating key issues during the sessions.

The AFC issued a statement on Tuesday to address the dispute. The confederation noted that neither Prince Ali nor representatives from other member associations formally requested to speak. It added that while allegations of coercion or bribery are serious, they require credible evidence. The AFC confirmed it would refer Prince Ali's specific statements to its judicial panel for examination.

Prince Ali posted on the social media platform X late on Wednesday to address the situation. He expressed respect for the AFC's mechanisms and stated that the Jordan FA would vote independently in the upcoming FIFA presidential election. He said he would refrain from making further public comments while the matter is under active consideration.

Gianni Infantino, who has served as FIFA president since 2016, is seeking to retain his position in a vote scheduled for March. His bid follows an apology regarding an abandoned proposal to sell a stake in FIFA competitions. The AFC's endorsement marks a shift in stance, as the confederation had accused FIFA of a fundamental breach of trust over the same proposal just three months ago.