The Jordan Football Association announced the resignation of General Secretary Samar Nassar following public backlash over poor audio and visual feeds during a friendly match between the national team, known as the Al-Nashama, and Syria. Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, president of the association, chaired an executive committee meeting at the federation’s headquarters in Amman to address the broadcast failures and reshape administrative leadership ahead of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Leadership Shakeup After Broadcast Failures
Samar Nassar concluded a nine-year tenure leading the federation’s administrative body. Marwan Jumaa, vice president of the Jordan Football Association, told media representatives that Nassar “did not fall short” during her service, noting that periodic leadership changes are a natural part of sports administration after nearly a decade in a demanding role. The executive committee accepted her resignation and thanked her for developing the local football system and achieving milestones across various levels.
To ensure institutional continuity, the council appointed Farah Al-Badarana as acting general secretary. Al-Badarana brings more than 15 years of experience in sports governance, business development, and international tournament organization. Having joined the federation in 2011 as business development manager—a role she currently maintains alongside her position as international relations manager for the West Asian Football Federation—Al-Badarana steps into the post immediately.
Investigation Launched Into Al-Nashama Broadcast Disruption
The administrative overhaul follows widespread criticism from Jordanian football supporters over the broadcast quality of the recent friendly against Syria. Jumaa emphasized that the board of directors does not bear direct responsibility for the match-day transmission errors, explaining that broadcast operations fall under the purview of the General Secretariat and corporate contracting standards. The federation announced that an investigative committee will examine the technical faults, review vendor qualifications, and evaluate future broadcast agreements to prevent similar incidents.
“Criticism for failure is important and required, but personal attacks do not benefit anyone,” Jumaa said during the briefing, adding that future commercial partnerships for match broadcasts must be vetted against strict technical criteria and proven industry experience.
Prince Ali Emphasizes Media Partnership and Regional Coaching
During discussions at headquarters, Prince Ali reaffirmed the vital role of sports journalism in supporting Jordanian football. He stated that the media acts as an essential partner to the federation and highlighted the need for sustained cooperation as the national team prepares for upcoming continental commitments, specifically pointing toward the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Federation leadership emphasized confidence in regional technical staff, noting that Arab managers remain a preferred option for leading the national team. On the player front, Jumaa provided an update on Yazan Al-Naimat, confirming that the player is currently progressing through an individual rehabilitation program and could return to team training as early as next month.
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