By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
September 11 – Three months after discovering that he will lose his position as Asia’s FIFA vice-president, Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan has come out fighting by announcing that he will stand for election as a member of FIFA’s executive committee next year.
The committed reformist, who will see his VP position go to AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in 2015 following the region’s controversial ruling to merge both posts, has decided, after lying low to consider his future, that he wants to maintain a presence within FIFA’s inner sanctum and not be railroaded into submission.
Three Asian FIFA exco places are up for grabs next year at a so far unspecified election date, possibly in the spring.
“I will run because it gives me an opportunity to carry on,” said Prince Ali who has no problems about the role, in some people’s eyes, being downgraded from VP. “It’s not a matter of a title. We have a lot of work to do, especially at grass-roots level, and I’m very eager to do it. I really want to contribute to re-organise the path in a proper way. There has not been enough in terms of development in general.”
Commenting for the first time publicly about the bitter disappointment of being ousted as FIFA vice-president when his four-year term comes to an end next year, Prince Ali made it clear he believes there should be a greater spread of power and responsibility.
“There were some issues, of course, in terms of musical chairs. If we want to have all the power in Asia under one person, time will tell if that’s the right move. I was frustrated in terms of the history of Asia and why there was division in the first place. I’m not interested in protocol.”
During this week’s Soccerex conference in Manchester, Prince Ali declared he was in favour of term limits for FIFA officials, including the executive committee, even though the idea was overwhelming rejected by the FIFA Congress in June.
In a frank, on-the-record briefing for selected media following his address to Soccerex, Prince Ali, whose outspoken modernist views are not shared amongst many of FIFA’s old guard, explained his stance.
“There’s nothing wrong with fresh blood,” he said, “but it (term limits) should apply to everyone, across the board. I think people are more happy to work anyway within that framework.”
He feels the same way about background checks for senior FIFA personnel. “One of the arguments is that any candidate who runs for a position should have a background check. According to FIFA, that only applies for new members which I think is wrong. Why doesn’t it apply to all members if you have nothing to hide. I’m going to bring this up.”
Prince Ali feels increasingly frustrated that FIFA has become too embroiled in politics rather than focussing on football. “There is so much more than can be done. It’s unbelievable what FIFA can contribute and we have to re-organise.”
He is disappointed that some of the recommendations put forward by the Swiss governance expert appointed by FIFA to make proposals for change following the worst corruption-tainted period in its history were not introduced. ” (Mark) Pieth came out with a lot of recommendations I have not seen implemented.”
And he is equally concerned the same thing might happen with regard to Michael Garcia’s 350-page FIFA-commissioned report into possible corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.
“It would be a catastrophe for FIFA not to listen to what he has to say and a shame if whatever comes out of the report is not implemented. That’s my main concern. I will fight to make sure there is full openness and transparency.”
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