FIFA's Prince Ali urges unity in Asian football

FIFA's Prince Ali urges unity in Asian football
DOHA - After a bitter election battle, the newest FIFA vice president Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan says it is time to put aside rivalries and work to unite Asian football.

The 35-year-old Prince Ali last week beat incumbent Chung Mong-joon of South Korea to become the youngest member on FIFA's ruling executive committee. It was a surprising result since Chung had the backing of Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed bin Hammam.

"The election is over and it's time to work," he told The Associated Press on Thursday. "There is a bit of disunity on the continent, and they (the national associations) want the continent to be united."

Prince Ali said there was significant "pressure" put on national federations in the 46-nation Asian Football Confederation to support a block of candidates led by Chung, which was "harmful to Dr. Chung." He said that pressure backfired, and that he won the vote 25-20 by reaching out to the federations and promising to work closely with them.

"Before the vote, we were told there was no chance," Prince Ali said. "But with the dignity of the national associations, regardless of the pressure put on them ... regardless of that, they made their choice and I am happy."

Prince Ali, who was on hand to see Jordan upset Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Doha in an Asian Cup match, refused to be drawn into a discussion about allegations of corruption at FIFA, or what action he might take to help prevent future scandals plaguing the organization.

FIFA officials were accused of taking bribes and trading votes before last month's election of host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Russia was awarded the 2018 tournament and Qatar was given 2022.

FIFA's ethics panel investigated and barred two members of the 24-strong executive committee — Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti — from voting based on evidence provided by an undercover sting by British newspaper The Sunday Times.

Adamu became the first FIFA official suspended for bribery and is serving a three-year ban from duty. Temarii, a FIFA vice president, was cleared of corruption but given a one-year ban for breaching rules on confidentiality and loyalty.

Both men, who deny wrongdoing, formally appealed against their suspensions on Thursday.

The soft-spoken Prince Ali, who has served as the president of the Jordan Football Association and the West Asian Football Federation, also sidestepped a question on whether he would support FIFA president Sepp Blatter when Blatter runs for re-election in June.

His victory is seen as beneficial to Blatter, since Chung was a possible candidate for the top post. After the vote, Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who heads the Olympic Council of Asia and the Kuwait Football Federation, said the 25 delegates who voted for Prince Ali will support Blatter when he stands for re-election and that Bin Hammam — who is also seen as having an eye on the presidency — is unlikely to challenge him.

"We have tremendous respect for President Blatter," Prince Ali said, adding that Blatter supported neither candidate in the election. "We want the best for FIFA, for football. I'm not a politician and that is one of the keys to our success. I care about Asia."

Prince Ali said repeatedly he wanted to stay away from politics and focus on his campaign promises once he takes office, which include protecting the integrity of the game, revitalizing national associations, and empowering youth and women.

Long an advocate for women's football, Prince Ali said he would seek to boost the number of Asian teams at the women's World Cup, increase spending on the women's game and help launch a professional women's league in Asia that he hoped would someday include a team from Saudi Arabia, which until now has frowned upon women taking part in sports.

"Obviously, we have to understand cultural sensitivities," he said, in relation to Saudi Arabia. "It is not an issue of making demands, or what not, but an issue of encouraging, and that's my way of working."