AFC Opens Judicial Probe Into Prince Ali's Criticism of Infantino

Prince Ali bin Hussein, chief of the Jordan Football Association, announced Wednesday that his body will fully cooperate with a judicial review launched by the Asian Football Confederation. The investigation follows a public dispute that erupted last week during the AFC Congress in Tokyo.

The conflict intensified after AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa used the extraordinary congress to endorse FIFA President Gianni Infantino for re-election. Prince Ali claimed that delegates were blocked from speaking, asking questions, or debating key issues. He described the final day of proceedings as a purely political exercise directed by Infantino.

AFC officials pushed back on those claims in a statement issued Tuesday. The confederation clarified that neither Prince Ali nor representatives from other member associations had formally requested the floor during the sessions. The organization stated that allegations of coercion, threats, or bribery are serious but require credible evidence to proceed. It confirmed that specific remarks made by Prince Ali would be referred to its internal judicial bodies.

Late Wednesday, Prince Ali addressed the situation on the social media platform X. He expressed respect for the AFC and its judicial mechanisms. He stated that the Jordan Football Association would cast its vote in the upcoming FIFA presidential election independently, in accordance with FIFA Statutes.

The Jordanian chief explained that his initial comments aimed to clarify the voting process and emphasize transparency in football governance. He defended his final sentence as a statement of shared principle rather than a direct allegation against a specific individual. He maintained that the rule against coercion, threats, or bribery is shared by the entire football family.

Prince Ali indicated that he would refrain from further public comments while the AFC judicial panel considers the matter. 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 marks a sharp shift in the confederation's stance. Three months ago, the AFC accused FIFA of a fundamental breach of trust over the same abandoned proposal. The judicial review will determine whether Prince Ali's statements lead to formal sanctions or are resolved as a matter of governance principle.