The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on 27 October that it "firmly rejects the allegations made by the President of the Jordan Football Association" about the conduct of its Extraordinary Congress in Tokyo, and that it was referring his statements to its judicial bodies. The Jordan FA president, Prince Ali bin Hussein, had accused FIFA President Gianni Infantino of manipulating the AFC congress for political ends, according to Bongdaplus.
What Prince Ali alleged
Bongdaplus reported that the Extraordinary Congress took place in Tokyo on 23 October, and that AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa used it to publicly back Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president, declaring that Asian football stood united behind him.
Prince Ali then objected to how the meeting was run. He said delegates were not allowed to speak, ask questions, debate or talk to the media, and described the final day as no different from a political show. The AFC says these statements were published on his X account.
It is not the first time the prince has publicly attacked the FIFA president, Bongdaplus noted: in August he accused Infantino of extortion and claimed FIFA had offered to help resolve Jordan's problems in exchange for his support.
How the AFC answered
The AFC says the congress complied fully with its rules and regulations, and that its Standing Orders set out clear procedures for member associations to take part, which were upheld throughout. During the proceedings, it says, "the President of the Jordan Football Association did not request the floor, nor was any such request made by any other Member Association". The Jordanian delegation could have taken part under those procedures, but submitted no request.
The confederation adds that it "has never restricted its members from engaging with the media" and that every member is free to speak through the media or its own social media. On the gravest claims, the statement reads: "The AFC takes seriously the unsupported and entirely unsubstantiated allegations of coercion, threats or bribery. Such serious accusations must be supported by credible evidence and should not be made without a proper factual basis."
Timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| About three months before the Tokyo congress | The AFC accused Infantino of a serious breach of trust over the now-cancelled FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which included a plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions (according to Bongdaplus) |
| August | Prince Ali accused Infantino of extortion |
| 23 October | AFC Extraordinary Congress in Tokyo; Sheikh Salman says Asian football is united behind Infantino |
| After the congress | Prince Ali criticises the running of the congress on X |
| 27 October | The AFC rejects the allegations and refers the matter to its judicial bodies |
What happens next
The AFC's judicial bodies are to consider the statements, including the allegations raised, and decide on any further action under the AFC Statutes and applicable regulations. The statement gives no timetable. Bongdaplus stressed that the referral does not mean Prince Ali has been found to have broken any rules, though it expects the row over transparency, members' right to speak and political influence in international football bodies to draw more attention. The AFC, for its part, says it remains committed to good governance, transparency and the fair treatment of all its member associations.