Prince Ali critical of FIFA over funding cuts to confederations

FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has criticised the global body's decision to cut off funding to corruption hit Americas confederations, calling it "collective punishment".

Prince Ali, who is hoping to be elected FIFA president on February 26, questioned Monday's announcement by FIFA that it had put on hold payments to CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, the two confederations that have been most affected by the corruption scandal engulfing football governance.

CONMEBOL is responsible for the sport in South America while CONCACAF covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. Officials from the Americas make up the overwhelming majority of the 41 individuals and entities that have been indicted by the United States Department of Justice.

"I have read reports that a FIFA spokesperson has announced that funding to CONCACAF and CONMEBOL has been suspended with immediate effect," wrote Ali in a statement.

"Who is the spokesman; which FIFA committee does he represent; who decided that 45 member associations should suffer collective punishment as a result of individuals' bad actions; who decided to hold these votes to ransom less than three weeks before the election and who exactly will decide when the funding will be reinstated?" concluded the statement.

CONCACAF has seen its last three presidents indicted by the Department of Justice with Trinidad and Tobago's Jack Warner, Cayman Islander Jeffrey Webb and Honduran Alfred Hawit all facing charges.

CONMEBOL has had former president Nicolas Leoz and its most recent leader Jan Angel Napout, both of Paraguay, indicted along with several other leading officials.

The two organisations are due to hold a joint 'Copa America' tournament in the United States in June to celebrate CONMEBOL's centenary.

FIFA's media department declined to comment beyond reissuing the statement they released on Monday.

"We can confirm that in light of current proceedings involving individuals related to CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, FIFA has put contributions towards these two confederations on hold until further notice.

"We are currently assessing further steps to be taken to increase the level of assurance which may again enable FIFA to release such funds in the future."