Exclusive: Britain's FIFA Presidency is not under threat, insists Prince Ali

By Andrew Warshaw

January 31 – Britain’s automatic FIFA Presidency is no longer under threat despite last year’s opposition to Sepp Blatter’s unchallenged re-election as FIFA President, according to the newest member of the organisation’s hierarchy, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured).

Britain’s long-standing special status has frequently been questioned as an unnecessary anachronism and came to the fore again last year when the English and Scottish federations called for the FIFA Presidential election to be postponed.

But Prince Ali of Jordan says the so-called British seat, currently occupied by Northern Ireland’s Jim Boyce, is not in danger of being scrapped.

“I don’t think it’s under threat,” Prince Ali told insideworldfootball.

“I have great respect for Jim Boyce.

“He’s doing a wonderful job.

“He’s a really good representative of Great Britain.”

Last summer European federations were furious that English Football Association chairman David Bernstein – supported by his Scottish counterpart – went against their advice not to try and postpone the FIFA election.

Reports suggested that there was a concerted move to take over the automatic seat that has been a British privilege for 64 years.

But Prince Ali said this was no longer the case as far as he could tell and that he would make it his business, in his second year of office as a FIFA vice-president himself, to make sure Boyce’s position remains protected.

“From what I’ve seen of Jim Boyce, definitely I would try,” he said.

“Personally, I would definitely support him.”

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