Prince Ali calls for public debate on FIFA leadership

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has called on Sepp Blatter to participate in publicised debates in the lead up to FIFA’s presidential elections in May.

Prince Ali, a current vice-president of FIFA, is one of three candidates challenging Blatter’s position, all of whom are promising to clean up the image of football’s governing body after high-profile controversies in recent years.

Former Portugal international Luis Figo will also run for the post along with Michael van Praag, the chairman of the Dutch Football Association.

And, talking at his candidacy launch in London on Tuesday, Prince Ali believes the election process should be open for the benefit of the footballing public.

“If we are talking about transparency I would like to see, at least before the elections, a public debate – including the incumbent (Blatter) – so everyone across the world knows what our positions are,” he said.

“That is only fair to everyone and I am ready to do it.

“I have my reputation. I am who am I and I just hope that things work out. That is fair and that is honest and if that is the case I’m very confident.”

President of the Jordan Football Association and a member of the FIFA Executive Committee, Prince Ali revealed he had been nominated for the presidency by his homeland as well as England, the United States, Belarus, Georgia and Malta.

“My nominations are from three different confederations, which I’m very happy with,” he said.

“I know it is going to be a big challenge and we have a lot to do until May 29, but I’m very confident in all our national associations and the presidents of our national associations who want the best for football.”

Although he has now officially launched his campaign, Prince Ali intends to garner opinions from across all member nations of FIFA before publishing a completed framework for his campaign.

“As you are aware I have a programme that has come out,” he said. “But in the coming months I will be visiting national associations around the world to discuss with them what their hopes and ideas are for the future of FIFA.

“After that I will come out with a more detailed manifesto but, as they are the representatives of the world, I must talk to them – that is my approach to leadership.

“I have been on the Executive Committee for the last four years and I understand what has been going on. And after listening to colleagues who believe it is the time to change, I did this for the sake of football throughout the world.

“I have always tried to reform FIFA as best I can from the inside but I believe the best way to go ahead is to run for the presidency itself.”

Prince Ali also questioned previous elections and voting within the federation and hopes for a cleaner fight for the presidency this time.

“Obviously there is a culture of intimidation – let me put it that way - within FIFA,” he said.

“In the past, if people take a stand they possibly end up being punished for it. That is why the vote is secret and I hope that if things are played fairly and played rightly that things will go in the appropriate way.

“I believe the incumbent has a natural advantage but I assure our national associations that we are moving in the right direction and I will be the right candidate for them.

“Frankly I have been in football for many years. In the last four years I have understood what is going on. I have worked with our players and our fans and understanding their needs. I want to bring that back to football.

“The owners of the games are the fans and the players and the managers. We need to reverse this pyramid, we are here to serve the game not to dictate how things are done, and we also have to restore confidence and I believe I can do that.”

Talking about Blatter specifically, Prince Ali believes the 78-year-old has to hold his hands up for the way FIFA has been run, with clouds still hanging over his previous nominations as president as well as the bidding process that saw Russia and Qatar named as World Cup host nations.

“He has been the president and definitely the president needs to be held responsible for what happens,” he said.

“If I’m president I will take responsibility for all actions that come out of FIFA. We have also had promises from him that he would not run again but that is not the case and I think that, with full honesty and integrity, he should give a chance to others – including myself.”