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 making promises about empowering women and youth development. “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 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. 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.
