Jordan Football Association to Face AFC Probe Over Infantino Critique

The Jordan Football Association will undergo a formal judicial review by the Asian Football Confederation following public criticism of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Prince Ali bin Hussein, who leads the Jordanian body, announced on Wednesday that his organization will cooperate fully with the investigation.

The dispute stems from the AFC’s extraordinary congress held in Tokyo last week. During the proceedings, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa endorsed Infantino for re-election. Prince Ali subsequently stated that delegates were unable to speak, question, or debate key issues. He described the final day as a political maneuver orchestrated by Infantino to seize control of the congress.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the AFC clarified that neither Prince Ali nor representatives from other member associations had formally requested to speak during the sessions. The confederation acknowledged that allegations of coercion, threats, or bribery are serious matters. However, it noted that such claims require credible evidence to proceed. The AFC confirmed it would refer Prince Ali’s specific statements to its internal judicial bodies for examination.

Prince Ali addressed the situation in a post on X late Wednesday. He expressed respect for the AFC and its judicial mechanisms. He stated that the Jordan Football Association would vote independently in the upcoming FIFA presidential election, as allowed by FIFA Statutes. He explained that his initial comments aimed to clarify the voting process and emphasize transparency in governance. He defended his earlier remarks as a statement of shared principle rather than a direct allegation against a specific individual.

The Jordanian chief noted that the appropriate venue for addressing concerns is the competent bodies. He indicated he would refrain from further public comments while the matter remains under active consideration by the AFC judicial panel. 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 recent AFC endorsement represents a shift in the confederation’s stance. Three months prior, the AFC had accused FIFA of a fundamental breach of trust over the same abandoned proposal. The upcoming review will determine whether Prince Ali’s statements lead to formal sanctions or are resolved as a matter of governance principle.