Fifa pays Jordan’s Arab Cup dues after Prince Ali bribery claim

Fifa has transferred money owed to Jordan’s national team for their participation in the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, weeks after Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein accused the governing body of attempting to pressure him into supporting Gianni Infantino.

Jordan’s team finished runners-up at the tournament in Qatar, losing the final to Morocco. The payments, relating to the players and members of the coaching staff, were transferred on Thursday.

Prince Ali announced the move in a post on X, thanking Fifa’s administration for making what he described as a surprise payment.

“I would like to thank the Fifa administration for this morning’s unexpected transfer of the financial dues owed to our players and members of the coaching staff, following the Jordan national team’s qualification for the Arab Cup final in Qatar last December,” he wrote.

He said the money should have been paid eight months earlier.

“Although this step represents a positive development for our players, it does not alter the serious concerns we share with many people working in football about the leadership of the world governing body, nor does it erase what our national associations have experienced in the past,” he added.

Prince Ali said the payment highlighted wider problems surrounding the administration of football and elections for the Fifa presidency.

“In fact, what happened is clear evidence of the nature of the difficulties we all face, which are often linked to elections for the Fifa presidency,” he wrote.

“It also does not change my clear position on Fifa’s leadership. My national association and I will not support Gianni Infantino, and we will not vote for him.”

Prince Ali’s allegations

Prince Ali had previously said Fifa tried to pressure him into publicly declaring his support for Infantino.

He claimed the Jordan Football Association had faced tax demands from the United States through Fifa because of its participation in the World Cup, while also waiting for the players’ Arab Cup payments.

“We were subjected to taxes by the US government through Fifa because of our participation in the World Cup, and we are still waiting for our players’ bonuses for the Arab Cup in Qatar, a competition organised by Fifa,” he said at the time.

According to Prince Ali, Fifa had declined to help Jordan with those matters and other issues for several months.

“For months, Fifa refused to help us with these issues and others, until I was verbally told during the World Cup that my support for Infantino would greatly assist our national association,” he said.

He rejected the suggestion that Jordan should change its position in return for help.

“Here in Jordan, we take pride in adhering to ethical values. We did not support Infantino in the past, and we certainly will not support him now,” Prince Ali said.

“But the whole situation amounts to blackmail, and we refuse to submit to such practices.”

Jordan’s payment has now been made, but Prince Ali said the transfer would not change either his criticism of Fifa’s leadership or his opposition to Infantino.