FIFA Withholds Jordan’s Prize Money To Extort Political Support

FIFA has come under fire following serious allegations that world football’s governing body is withholding substantial prize money from Jordan to pressure the nation into backing Gianni Infantino.

The Jordan Football Association was due to receive approximately 400 million taka (£2.7 million) in prize money after finishing as runners-up in the FIFA Arab Cup. In a thrilling final held at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on 18 December 2025, Jordan fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat against Morocco after extra time. However, months after the tournament concluded, FIFA has failed to release the allocated funds.

Former FIFA Vice-President and President of the Jordan Football Association, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, made the public revelation via social media. He disclosed that the Jordanian association has lodged a formal complaint with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regarding the matter.

According to Prince Ali, FIFA officials directly threatened the national association, communicating that the prize money and development assistance would only be disbursed if Jordan pledged its official political support to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. He stated that FIFA representatives offered extensive financial backing to the Jordan Football Association on the explicit condition that they stood alongside Infantino’s administration.

Jordan has steadfastly refused to yield to the pressure. Prince Ali declared that offering support under such coercive conditions was entirely out of the question, leading FIFA to deliberately block the transfer of funds as a retaliatory measure.

Expressing deep frustration over the governing body’s conduct, Prince Ali pointed out the stark contradiction between FIFA’s public stance and its operational practices. He noted that while FIFA frequently boasts about its substantial cash reserves and financial strength, it continues to withhold legitimately earned prize money from member associations. He stressed that the ongoing dispute highlights systemic leadership issues within FIFA, adding that the international body has withheld all forms of assistance from Jordan in recent months.