The Asian Football Confederation -AFC- has announced that it will refer statements by Jordan Football Association President Prince Ali bin Al Hussein to its judicial bodies after he accused Gianni Infantino of using the Tokyo Congress to promote his re-election. According to a report published on Wednesday by German news agency dpa, the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has begun proceedings and will request a formal statement supported by evidence. The move adds a disciplinary dimension to the dispute over Asian support for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association -FIFA- president.
The AFC’s official statement, published on Tuesday, rejects the allegations and announces their referral to the relevant bodies for consideration under its statutes and regulations. The confederation describes the references to coercion, threats or bribery as unsupported and calls for credible evidence. The announcement does not identify specific provisions that might apply or a possible sanction: it leaves its judicial bodies to assess the statements and determine any appropriate action.
Two accounts of the Tokyo Congress
The dispute followed the extraordinary Congress held on October 23 in Japan, where AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa expressed support for another Infantino term. Ali subsequently said the first days of meetings had focused on football, while the final day had been “pure politics”. He also challenged the existence of a united Asian position and claimed that delegates had not been allowed to speak, ask questions, debate or address the media. His remarks concluded with a warning against coercion, threats and bribery.
The AFC responded that the Congress had complied with its rules and that procedures for participation had remained available throughout the meeting. According to its statement, neither Ali nor any other delegation requested the floor. It also denied restricting contact with the media and defended its members’ right to express their views publicly. The conflicting accounts place the conduct of the Congress and opportunities for participation at the centre of the controversy.
Salman’s support and differences between associations
Salman’s endorsement marked a shift from his confrontation with Infantino over FIFA Forward Enterprise -FFE-, the abandoned proposal to bring private investment into an entity linked to the commercial rights of FIFA competitions. The AFC had joined UEFA and CONCACAF in criticising the initiative. In Tokyo, Salman backed the president’s continuation in office, while Infantino publicly thanked him for his confidence. Their reconciliation strengthened Infantino’s position ahead of the March 2027 election.
That backing coexists with differing national positions. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, president of the Japanese football association, acknowledged to Reuters after the Congress that AFC members’ views were not fully aligned. He explained that his association would consider Salman’s endorsement and the importance of presenting a united front before deciding. The AFC comprises 47 associations, 46 of which are FIFA members and retain their voting rights. His comments provide context for the distinction between support from the continental leadership and each association’s own decision.
A dispute dating back to August
Ali had already accused FIFA’s leadership of “blackmail” in August. According to his account, he was told during the World Cup that endorsing Infantino would help resolve problems facing the Jordanian association. His complaints included outstanding prize money for reaching the 2025 Arab Cup final. Two days later, he confirmed that players and staff had received the amounts owed. That episode forms part of his confrontation with FIFA’s leadership, while the action now announced by the AFC concerns his statements about the Tokyo Congress.
The request for evidence makes Ali’s documentation and its assessment by the relevant bodies the next procedural step. Meanwhile, FIFA’s election timetable sets November 18 as the deadline for presidential nominations. Ali, a former FIFA vice-president and candidate in the 2015 and 2016 elections, is again publicly challenging its leadership as political alliances shift. The proceedings introduce a new requirement into that confrontation: turning public allegations into a documented statement submitted to the confederation.
Last related articles
