Prince Ali pledges co-operation with AFC investigation after Tokyo conference dispute

Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Association, says he will fully co-operate with any judicial review conducted by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), days after accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of using an AFC conference for political purposes.

The dispute centres on last week’s extraordinary AFC Congress in Tokyo, where AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa expressed the organisation’s full support for Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president.

Prince Ali criticised the meeting afterwards, claiming delegates had not been allowed to speak, ask questions or discuss any issues. He described the final day of the congress as “pure politics, instigated by Gianni Infantino”.

The AFC responded firmly last Tuesday, saying in an official statement that neither Prince Ali nor representatives of any member associations had requested to make statements during the congress.

It added that serious allegations involving coercion, threats or bribery must be supported by credible evidence. The confederation also said Prince Ali’s comments had been referred to its relevant judicial bodies for consideration.

Prince Ali clarifies position

In an effort to ease the dispute, Prince Ali issued a statement late on Wednesday evening on X.

“I respect the Asian Football Confederation and its judicial bodies, and I will fully co-operate with any proceedings,” he wrote.

Prince Ali, who has long been critical of FIFA’s leadership, also confirmed that the Jordan Football Association would cast its vote in the FIFA presidential election independently, in accordance with FIFA regulations.

He said his earlier post had been intended to explain the voting process and highlight the importance of transparency in the governance of football.

“The final sentence states a principle shared by the entire football family: no election should be open to coercion, threats or bribery, and I support this principle,” he said.

“It was a statement of principle, not an allegation against anyone.”

Prince Ali added that he would make no further comment while the matter remained under consideration.

Infantino seeking another term

The development comes as Infantino prepares to seek re-election in March. He has been FIFA president since 2016 and recently apologised for a controversial proposal, which was abandoned, to sell a stake in FIFA competitions.

The AFC’s current backing for Infantino marks a sharp change from its position only three months earlier. At that time, the confederation accused FIFA of a “fundamental breach of trust” over the same proposal.

The latest disagreement follows the Tokyo congress, where the AFC’s support for Infantino was publicly confirmed, and the subsequent referral of Prince Ali’s remarks to the confederation’s judicial bodies.