Jordan's national football team has finally received prize money for its participation in the 2025 Arab Cup, Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali bin Hussein announced, just two days after levelling accusations of blackmail against Fifa.
Prince Ali had previously criticised Fifa president Gianni Infantino, alleging the organisation offered assistance with the kingdom's issues in exchange for his endorsement, following Infantino's withdrawal from a World Cup stake sale proposal. Among the problems cited was the association's eight-month wait for prize money, due since December for reaching the Arab Cup final in Qatar.
Writing on X, Prince Ali stated: "Thank you to the Fifa administration for suddenly this morning delivering what was owed to our players and coaching staff, for the Jordan National team's accession to the final of the Fifa Arab Cup in Qatar last December." He added: "This was funding that should have been received eight months ago."
He had previously alleged that Fifa verbally communicated during the World Cup that supporting the president "would go a long way to helping our FA out". Fifa has not responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations.
While welcoming the payment, Prince Ali maintained it would not alter his organisation's concerns about Fifa's leadership. He described the situation as "symptomatic of those exact difficulties that we all face and that are usually linked to the Fifa presidential elections," adding: "And it does not change my clear position concerning the leadership of Fifa: my FA and I will not endorse President Infantino, nor will we vote for him."
The development follows Fifa's apology to members for errors concerning its abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, though the body's leadership reaffirmed support for Infantino after a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.