Prince Ali concerned over FIFA electoral rule 'breach’

Amman, January 16

FIFA presidential contender Prince Ali bin al Hussein has denounced a possible attempt involving one of his rivals to breach the election rules and called for an investigation.

"I am concerned that there has been an attempt to breach electoral rules in the FIFA presidential election," the Jordanian prince said. "I have written to the FIFA Ad Hoc Electoral Committee informing them of my concerns and asking them to examine the matter."

It comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Friday in Kigali to organise tournaments and programmes for technical development. The Asian Football Confederation is headed by Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa, who is also running for the top job in world football. "I have always promoted cross-regional understanding," Prince Ali said. "However the timing of this MOU between the AFC and the CAF looks like a blatant attempt to engineer a bloc vote."

CAF secretary general Hicham El Amrani told AFP on Friday that the confederation would decide on February 5 which FIFA candidate it supports. The choice of the 54-strong CAF could be crucial in the FIFA vote, scheduled for February 26 in Zurich. The African confederation enjoys the biggest membership ahead of UEFA (53), Asia (46), CONCACAF (35), Oceania (11) and South America (10).

Prince Ali is one of five candidates vying to take the helm of FIFA.