Blatter lauds Prince Ali efforts to develop football in Asia

AMMAN –– FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter on Monday lauded the efforts of HRH Prince Ali, FIFA Vice President representing Asia, in developing football in Jordan and the continent, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said.

At a press conference in Amman, Blatter said that Prince Ali has "successfully"  removed many obstacles that hindered the development of the sport in Asia, citing the efforts of Prince Ali, who is FIFA's youngest vice president, to overturn the ban on the hijab in football. 

FIFA had prevented women wearing the headscarf on safety grounds, but Prince Ali successfully convinced the football's governing body to lift the ban as wearing hijab is related to personal freedom.
The Prince, who also heads Jordan Football Association (JFA) has also founded the Asian Football Development Project, which assists football associations across Asia, focusing on grass-roots, youth and women.

"We at FIFA, and I the president appreciate the work of HRH Prince Ali," Blatter said.

Prior to the press conference, FIFA president joined Prince Ali and the board members of JFA in a meeting to discuss Jordan's preparations for the U17 FIFA Women's World Cup in 2016, as well as the development of the sport in the Kingdom and the ways to move ahead, a statement issued by the office of Prince Ali said.

"I'd like to welcome President Blatter in his second home and I thank him for his continuous encouragement and support not only for Jordanian football but also for West Asia and worldwide," Prince Ali said. 

Blatter congratulated the JFA on the success of its recent board elections and described Jordan as a "hub for peace".

Later on the day Blatter travelled to Palestinian territories where he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and football officials there.