FIFA: Gianni Infantino under pressure in Asia, a federation president threatened

The battle surrounding Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA president has taken a new turn. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, president of the Jordanian Football Federation and an outspoken critic of the world football boss, faces disciplinary action after denouncing practices he considers questionable within the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The dispute erupted following the AFC congress held last week in Tokyo. The Jordanian official accuses Gianni Infantino of using the event to bolster his chances of securing another term as FIFA president.

According to Prince Ali, the final day of the meeting was marked by a particularly tense political atmosphere. He claims that participants were not given the opportunity to speak freely, ask questions, or address the media. He also denounced alleged acts of coercion, threats, and corruption, without providing any evidence to support his accusations.

The AFC has referred the matter to its disciplinary bodies.

The statements made by the president of the Jordanian Football Federation quickly drew a reaction from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The AFC announced its intention to refer the matter to the appropriate judicial bodies so they can examine the official's remarks and determine whether disciplinary action should be taken.

The Swiss Confederation has described these accusations as serious and unfounded. Proceedings could therefore be initiated against Prince Ali, although no final sanctions have been announced at this stage.

This affair comes at a particularly sensitive time for Gianni Infantino. The president of the AFC, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, has publicly expressed his support for the Italian-Swiss leader's candidacy for another term as FIFA president. The deadline for submitting candidacies is November 18.

Accusations already made in August

Relations between Gianni Infantino and Prince Ali bin al-Hussein have been strained for several months. Last August, the Jordanian leader had already accused the FIFA president of blackmail.

He claimed at the time that officials from the world governing body had offered to expedite the payment of bonuses intended for the Jordanian Federation in exchange for supporting Infantino's candidacy. These accusations, like the more recent ones, must be distinguished from established facts.

Despite this controversy, Gianni Infantino continues to emphasize the support he enjoys from FIFA's member associations. He notably mentioned massive support for his initiative, even though the FIFA Forward Enterprise project had raised questions before ultimately being abandoned.

With the election approaching, this latest confrontation highlights the divisions within international football's governing bodies. It remains to be seen whether Prince Ali's accusations will lead to disciplinary proceedings and what consequences this affair might have on relations between FIFA, the AFC, and the Jordanian Football Association.