FIFA President Gianni Infantino convened emergency meetings with senior staff at a Moroccan hotel as pressure intensifies following accusations of blackmail. The crisis comes after Prince Ali bin Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Association, alleged that Infantino withheld prize money payments until Jordan endorsed him for a fourth term.
Infantino has been under significant scrutiny since a proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup, valued at approximately $3.1 billion, was leaked last week. The proposal was subsequently withdrawn after facing widespread opposition, including internal dissent within FIFA. Both UEFA and CONCACAF, governing bodies for European and North/Central American football, have called for Infantino's resignation, with Europe declaring a lack of confidence in his leadership.
Jordan's stance marks the first rebellion from an Asian nation, potentially bringing the total of nations opposing Infantino to 91, assuming all UEFA and CONCACAF member nations align with their continental bodies. A total of 106 nations are required to depose the FIFA president.
Prince Ali bin Hussein detailed Jordan's challenges, stating that the FA faced significant hurdles, including issues with fan visas for the USA and U.S. government taxes levied on participation fees. He highlighted that while FIFA holds substantial reserves, the Jordanian team has been awaiting reward money since December for their participation in the Arab Cup in Qatar, a FIFA-sanctioned event. Hussein asserted that FIFA had refused assistance on these matters for months until he was verbally informed that endorsing Infantino would help Jordan's FA. He stated that Jordan, upholding ethical values, had not endorsed Infantino previously and would not do so now, characterizing the situation as blackmail.
Infantino has summoned senior FIFA officials to a hotel in Morocco for crisis talks.
