Exclusive: I'm not impressed by the politics, says FIFA's youngest executive member Prince Ali

By Andrew Warshaw

January 30 – Just over a year after becoming the youngest member of FIFA’s inner sanctum, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured) of Jordan believes there is still too much politics and a lack of openness within world football’s governing body and that those who wish to speak out should not be silenced.

Whilst much has been made of his campaign to allow female footballers to wear the hijab – the Islamic headscarf – during matches, Asia’s increasingly influential 36-year-old FIFA vice-president has strong views about a number of other subjects, not least the corruption scandals that rocked the organisation since he became a prominent voice within football’s corridors of power.

Prince Ali, head of the Jordan Football Association as well as vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), was recently also appointed chairman of FIFA’s Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility, deputy chairman of the FIFA Development Committee, and a member of the World Cup Organising Committee.

“It’s been a very challenging year,” he said in an interview with insideworldfootball.

“I’ve come in obviously at a very difficult time and have played a more active role than perhaps I would have liked.

“I’ve learned a lot about how the system works, both positive and, I guess, what some people would consider the negative aspects.

“I’ve been very impressed with the potential of the staff within both FIFA and the AFC, but I’m not impressed by all the politics.”

Prince Ali cites the upcoming March meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game’s lawmaking body, as a case in point.

On the agenda is the hijab issue and while he has been promised FIFA’s support, he knows the decision may not go his way.

“I’m going to present my case but my worry is, as I have seen during the past year, that even when promises are made, sometimes at the last minute they can be changed,” he said.

“That’s part of the politics of FIFA.

“Just as disheartening is that there is a culture, especially among the staff, that if you form your opinion and speak out, it is considered a negative.

“I’ve come across that in all spheres, whether FIFA, the AFC or national associations.”

Prince Ali declined to go into specific detail but added: “When I go into meetings and approach people with questions about their ideas, I see the surprise within them.

“There is a culture that if you speak your mind, you are putting yourself out on a limb instead of it being encouraged to get more creative ideas.

“There is a bit of a culture that you have to be worried about your career and therefore you should be silent.

“I’d like to try and change that in the next 12 months.”

In early January, Prince Ali, the third of the late King Hussein’s children to gain high office in the international sports arena, visited English Football Association chairman David Bernstein (pictured), a member of the Fair Play and Social Responsibility committee which he chairs.

The pair discussed how they could work together to give the committee genuine bite but lurking in the background were the recent instances of racism involving Luis Suárez and, allegedly, John Terry.

Liverpool’s Suárez is serving an eight-match ban, while under fire Chelsea and England captain Terry faces an initial magistrates court hearing on Wednesday this week that is likely to be adjourned.

“Obviously it’s a huge concern for everyone across the world,” said Prince Ali of the racism issue.

“England has a great track record in terms of fair play and a lot of damage has been done.

“The Premier League is seen all over the world and whatever happens there is picked up everywhere else.”

But by the same token, he stressed, there was widespread global admiration for the way the English authorities have dealt with the issue.

“Because of the stature of the Premier League, when people see how things like this are tackled, they reflect on themselves,” Prince Ali said.

“What’s important is the solution, not simply focussing on the problem.

“It’s a big responsibility.

“Everyone was watching to see how things would be handled.”

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