FIFA has been accused of blackmail by the Jordanian Football Association, as Gianni Infantino faces mounting pressure from across the football world.
Jordan FA president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein claimed FIFA sought to secure his support for Infantino's re-election by promising to help recover money he said was owed to the association. The allegation comes as the FIFA president faces growing pressure over plans to seek private investors for a company that would run the organisation's major tournaments, including the men's and women's World Cups.
Allegations of visa refusal and high costs
Prince Ali claimed Jordanian supporters were refused visas to enter the United States despite holding World Cup match tickets, while describing ticket prices as "exorbitant". He also criticised the "huge costs" his association faced through US taxes while competing at the tournament, claiming countries based in Canada and Mexico did not face the same issue.
The Jordan FA president also said the association was still waiting to receive prize money from last December's FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar, despite the national team reaching the final.
Prince Ali's statement
He said: "It is clear the problem really is with leadership."
Prince Ali added: "For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters – until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out."
He continued: "We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that."
Growing opposition
FIFA declined to comment on Prince Ali's allegations.
Jordan has now joined a growing number of football associations to withdraw support for Infantino, including England, Wales, Finland, Sweden and Serbia.
Asia is seen as the key continent in any presidential contest that may yet be forced, with Europe and nations from North America, Central America and the Caribbean expected to want Infantino out while Africa, South America and Oceania are expected to back him.
