FIFA VP Prince Ali bin Al Hussein has announced that he will stand against Sepp Blatter for the presidency of FIFA, according to Tony Bonnici of the LONDON TIMES. The Jordanian said that he wanted to "end the years of controversy surrounding 'the beautiful sport' as he became the second candidate publicly to challenge Blatter, after Jérôme Champagne, the Frenchman, confirmed in September that he would stand." Prince Ali, who was elected FIFA VP for Asia in '11 and has served as president of the Jordan FA since '99, said he had been "encouraged to stand in the May 29 election after discussions with senior figures within the sport." He said, "I am seeking the presidency of FIFA because I believe it is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport." He added, "The headlines should be about football, not about FIFA" (LONDON TIMES, 1/6). The AP's Graham Dunbar reported Prince Ali has been "encouraged to run" by UEFA and its president, Michel Platini. Platini, who "opted last year not to challenge his onetime mentor Blatter, was pleased by the prince's decision." Platini said in a statement, "I know Prince Ali well. He has all the credibility required to hold high
office. We now await his
proposals and his program for the future of football" (AP, 1/6). The BBC reported Prince Ali, also head of the West Asian Football Federation, was "one of a number of officials who called for the publication of ethics investigator Michael Garcia's report into allegations of corruption" surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. FIFA VP Jim Boyce added, "I got a big surprise when I heard that Prince Ali had decided to stand. I think Prince Ali is probably his own man and maybe
he feels it's something he wants to do and gives people an alternative
for the presidential election" (BBC, 1/6). REUTERS' Patrick Johnston reported Prince Ali was an "initial ally" of Blatter, but "relations between the
two weakened over the course of Ali's four-year term as the Jordanian
strengthened his ties with Platini." Ali, who campaigned "long and hard for
the allowance of hijabs" in women's football, has seen his position "weaken
in Asia since the election" of AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim
Al Khalifa in '13 (REUTERS, 1/6).
BERNSTEIN BACKS PRINCE ALI: The BBC reported former FA Chair David Bernstein has backed Prince Ali's bid to challenge Blatter. Bernstein worked with Prince Ali on FIFA's committee for fair play and social responsibility. Bernstein: "FIFA needs a change and I think Prince Ali could do it." Bernstein added, "I know Prince Ali fairly well, he's a very impressive person and I think
he's a decent person. He'll make a very interesting challenge to
Blatter" (BBC, 1/6).
BEST BET?: In London, Paul Hayward opined the "question nags: if the great powers of Europe really want to depose Sepp
Blatter then why are they hiding behind a Major General in the Jordanian
army" who greeted FIFA's papal leader in Amman in May by saying, "I'd like to
welcome President Blatter in his second home." There is "a lot to chew on in Prince Ali's CV: Princeton education, Sandhurst
training, stint as a pathfinder in Jordan's special forces." This is "not a
man born for the shadows." Which begs the question: "why does nobody from UEFA have the courage to take up
the fight?" There are currently five Europeans on
Blatter's "scandal-battered Executive Committee, yet all we can muster by way
of a coup d'etat is the mysterious Jerome Champagne and a Jordanian prince" (TELEGRAPH, 1/6).
