Iraq to back Prince Ali in FIFA election

LONDON – The Iraq Football Association (IFA) has pledged their support for HRH Prince Ali in next month's FIFA presidential election.

Prince Ali will stand against Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne of France, South African businessman and politician Tokyo Sexwale and UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino in the February 26 vote.

"The FA has endorsed Prince Ali in a letter to FIFA," IFA President Abdul Khaliq Masood said in a statement published by Prince Ali's bid team.

"We have decided that Iraq's vote will go to Prince Ali because Prince Ali has always supported the development of football in Iraq, Jordan and our region," Masood said. 

On Monday, Prince Ali hosted a delegation from Iraq including Masood and Iraq Minister of Youth and Sports Abdul-Hussein Abtan.

Prince Ali returned to Jordan at the start of the week to meet the Iraqi delegation after campaigning in Africa and the Caribbean, where his team said he "picked up private commitments of support from several other nations".

"We are very pleased to support Prince Ali. He is the best man for the job. We greatly appreciate everything Jordan has done to support Iraqi sports and youth over the years," Abtan told Iraq state television.