By Andrew Warshaw and Samindra Kunti
May 22 – Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein insists it not a foregone conclusion that his own confederation will vote against him at next week’s FIFA presidential election.
Prince Ali is now the sole opponent of Sepp Blatter following the withdrawals of Michael van Praag and Luis Figo but refuses to concede that the 46 voting members of the Asian Football Confederation, whose leadership is firmly aligned with Blatter, will necessarily follow suit.
Prince Ali wants FIFA’s governance to be more transparent and inclusive if he gets elected and would give continental federations more decision-making powers. He is by no means convinced, despite being virtually snubbed at the recent AFC Congress in Bahrain, that all the Asian nations will tow the party line when it comes to the crunch.
“Look, in different confederations sometimes, you know, there are different situations,” Prince Ali told Insideworldfootball on the sidelines of a news conference in Amsterdam where he sat alongside van Praag. “Let me be clear, this is not a confederation, it’s a national associations election so whatever is said in confederation or by confederation presidents is not necessarily the reflection of the national associations themselves.”
Prince Ali’s problem is that in much of the world, Blatter is widely supported especially by smaller nations who, rightly or wrongly, are less interested in allegations of corruption and more interested in receiving the financial resources to stay afloat.
As a direct result, though many observers might take the view it is too little too late, the Jordanian royal has deliberately tweaked his manifesto to include increasing the number of World Cup finalists from 32 to 36 in time for the 2018 tournament in Russia. He has also promised every association at least $1m a year.
Prince Ali’s new manifesto states: “A commitment to extend the number of countries participating in the World Cup from 32 to 36 teams as soon as possible, with a view to further, development-led expansion to be considered thereafter. I am committed to exploring all options to enable this expansion urgently, ideally in time for the 2018 World Cup.”
Van Praag only agreed to back Prince Ali on condition that a number of his own proposals be taken up in the Jordanian’s revised vision for change. These apparently included better human rights for workers employed on Qatar’s World Cup projects and limiting the FIFA president to two terms only.
Blatter, 79, remains the overwhelming favourite to win a fifth term of office but Prince Ali hopes he can sway any wavering federations his way in the build-up to next Friday’s ballot in Zurich.
“I think the support of Michael Van Praag is obviously very important,” said Prince Ali. “We are all standing on a platform for reform. If the football family follows their desires, and if things are done in a correct way with no interference, we have a great chance of making that change.”
“I think now the most important thing is that we are joined as a team. Together we are much stronger than one person alone and that’s the most important thing.
Prince Ali, who has already lost his Asian FIFA vice-presidency role and by association his executive committee position, will have no senior role at FIFA to press his case for reform if he loses next week even though he is only 39.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734807118labto1734807118ofdlr1734807118owedi1734807118sni@w1734807118ahsra1734807118w.wer1734807118dna1734807118