Gianni Infantino accused of ‘blackmail’ by Jordan FA president after foiled Fifa plan

Gianni Infantino’s attempt to restructure Fifa’s financial model by selling minority stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors has collapsed under a wave of opposition from football’s governing bodies. The plan, which would have diluted the autonomy of Fifa’s flagship competitions by introducing external shareholders, was abandoned last week after Uefa confirmed a boycott of World Cup and other Fifa events if the proposal advanced. The Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf joined Uefa in opposing the move, leaving Infantino with no path to push the plan through at the next Fifa council meeting, where a vote would have been required.

Prince Ali accuses Infantino of “blackmail” as FAs unite against the plan

Jordan FA president Prince Ali bin Hussein escalated the confrontation on Monday, accusing Infantino of “blackmail” after the Fifa president’s attempt to privatise tournament stakes was thwarted. Prince Ali, who lost to Infantino in the 2016 presidential election, posted on X that the situation “amounts to blackmail” and that Jordan would not endorse the Fifa president’s re-election next year. His remarks reflect a growing consensus among football federations that Infantino’s proposal threatened the integrity of the World Cup and other competitions by prioritising commercial interests over the sport’s traditional governance structures.

Prince Ali also highlighted broader grievances from Jordan’s perspective, including difficulties securing visas for fans heading to the USA for the World Cup—where 300 Jordanian supporters were initially denied entry despite holding valid match tickets—along with being taxed by the US government through Fifa for participation. He noted that Jordan, a first-time World Cup qualifier, had to cover costs that other nations in Canada and Mexico avoided. Additionally, he pointed to unpaid reward money for Jordan’s players from the Arab Cup in Qatar, a Fifa event, which was still outstanding since December, with the Jordan FA still awaiting the $1.5 million owed for reaching the final.

Uefa’s boycott threat forces Fifa into retreat

The European football’s governing body Uefa confirmed last week that its member nations would boycott the World Cup and other Fifa competitions if Infantino’s plan was put to a vote. The threat of a coordinated withdrawal from Fifa’s marquee events—covering 55 member associations—proved decisive, with the Asian Football Confederation (47 member associations) and Concacaf (41 member associations) aligning with Uefa. The unified stance from three of football’s most influential confederations, representing 143 of Fifa’s 211 member associations, left Infantino with no viable route to implement the proposal, forcing him to abandon it entirely ahead of the next Fifa council meeting scheduled for October 23.

Fifa has not responded publicly to Prince Ali’s accusations, but the organisation’s silence underscores the sensitivity of the issue. The collapse of the plan marks a rare setback for Infantino, who has overseen a period of expansion and commercial growth at Fifa, including record revenues from the 2022 World Cup. The proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments was seen by critics as a step toward further privatisation of football’s most valuable assets, raising concerns about transparency and governance among federations that have historically resisted external influence over tournament ownership.

What comes next for Fifa and its critics

The immediate fallout from the abandoned plan will likely intensify scrutiny of Fifa’s governance and financial practices. Prince Ali’s refusal to endorse Infantino’s re-election next year signals a growing bloc of opposition within the Fifa council, which could complicate the president’s path to a third term in 2025. The Jordan FA’s grievances over visa issues, taxation, and unpaid reward money also highlight systemic problems that Fifa will need to address if it hopes to regain trust among its member associations. These issues are particularly acute for smaller federations like Jordan, which lack the financial leverage of wealthier football nations.

For now, the focus shifts to how Fifa will respond to the demands of federations like Jordan. The organisation may seek to address the immediate financial concerns raised by Prince Ali, such as the unpaid reward money, while also reassessing its approach to commercial partnerships. The failed privatisation plan, however, serves as a warning that any future proposals perceived as undermining the autonomy of Fifa’s competitions will face swift and coordinated resistance. The episode underscores the fragile balance of power within world football, where Infantino’s ambitions for a more commercially driven Fifa have collided with the traditionalist instincts of football’s governing bodies, leaving the organisation at a crossroads.

Whether the president can navigate this divide—or whether his critics will push for deeper reforms—will define the next chapter of Fifa’s governance. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon and commercial pressures mounting, the stakes could not be higher for a president who has staked his legacy on expanding Fifa’s financial reach while maintaining the organisation’s unity.