Meet the Fifa presidential candidates: Prince Ali bin Al Hussein

Factbox on Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, one of five candidates standing for the Fifa presidency in an election on February 26.

FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan gestures during a speech on the future of football at the Soccerex convention in Manchester, northern Britain, in this file picture taken September 7, 2015. Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan formally submitted his candidature to be FIFA president on October 15, 2015, pledging to restore the reputation of world soccer's scandal-ridden governing body. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Files
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LONDON // Factbox on Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, one of five candidates standing for the Fifa presidency in an election on February 26.

* Born in Amman on December 23, 1975, he is the third son of the late King Hussein of Jordan. His mother, Queen Alia, died in a helicopter crash in February 1977 when he was 14 months old.

* Stood against Sepp Blatter in the Fifa election in May but, despite backing from Europe and other countries, was beaten by 133-73 votes in the first round. Although that did not give Blatter the winning margin he needed, Prince Ali conceded defeat before a second round was held.

* Also lost his seat on the Fifa executive committee because the vice presidency seat Prince Ali occupied was reallocated by the Asian Football Confederation to its own president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who is also now standing in this election.

* Decided to stand again following the crisis that engulfed Fifa last year and has repeatedly said on his worldwide campaign trail that "this is Fifa's last chance to get it right".

* Prince Ali was educated in Jordan, the United States and Britain and holds the rank of major general in the Jordanian Armed Forces.

* He became president of the Jordan Football Association in 1999 and a year later, he founded the West Asian Football Federation (Waff).

* He successfully campaigned to lift the ban on female Islamic players wearing headscarves in competitions.

* In 2011, he was elected Fifa vice president for Asia, becoming the youngest member of the executive board at the age of 35. He was also elected vice president of the Asian Football Confederation.

* His sister, Princess Haya, the wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, served two terms as president of the International Equestrian Federation and their half-brother, Prince Faisal, is a member of the International Olympic Committee.

* His Algerian-born wife is a former television journalist and they have two children.

Read also: Fifa presidential nominee Prince Ali of Jordan blasts 'irresponsible' Blatter and Platini

Key points of Prince Ali’s Fifa election manifesto:

* Supports an expanded World Cup but has not specified how many extra slots he would like to see in the finals. Guarantees that no confederation would lose any slots they now have.

* Would increase the grants Fifa gives to member associations from US$250,000 to $1 million (Dh918,237 to Dh3.673 million) every year .

* Wants to “turn the pyramid upside down” giving more power to “the national associations, players, coaches, officials, fans and sponsors”.

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