FIFA promote Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein

By Andrew Warshaw

January 6 – Almost exactly a year after joining the FIFA hierarchy, Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured) looks like becoming one of the most influential figures on the world stage.

Prince Ali, a staunch supporter of the FIFA Pesident, Sepp Blatter, and the youngest member of FIFA Executive Committee, has been given three high-profile roles at a time when world football’s governing body is looking for fresh talent to drive it forward after the ultimate annus horribilis.

He has been appointed chairman of the Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility, deputy chairman of the FIFA Development Committee, and a member of the World Cup Organising Committee.

“I look forward to serving all three committees in the best interest of the game; from the player and the referees on the pitch to the fans worldwide off the pitch,” said Prince Ali in a statement.

“It is crucial to implement football development in an innovative and socially responsible way and therefore capitalise on the power of our sport to strengthen communities, increase tolerance, promote co-existence and spur social, cultural and economic development.

“Development and Social Responsibility go hand in hand. I truly look forward to working with my esteemed colleagues …to promote football development across the board, starting with those who need it the most.”

Of particular interest is Prince Ali’s appointment as deputy chairman of the development committee.

This was formed at the FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Tokyo last month and comprises the merged Goal Bureau and the Bureau Special Projects.

The Goal Bureau, which provides assistance to developing FIFA member nations, was chaired by Mohamed Bin Hammam until he became embroiled in the cash-for-votes scandal.

Bin Hammam had more than a few critics in the way he ran Goal and giving Prince Ali a major say in its future management will ensure that funding is distributed in a more open and transparent way.

It will also allow him to monitor Issa Hayatou, the controversial boss of African football and fellow vice-president of FIFA who was recently sanction by the International Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission after they investigated allegations that he had received 100,000 French Francs in 1995 as part of the ISL broadcast rights scandal.

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