Australia to vote for Prince Ali in FIFA elections

Football Federation Australia will seek a fresh start for football’s governing body FIFA and vote for Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein as its next president, FFA Chairman Frank Lowy said Thursday. Lowy is in Zurich, Switzerland, to attend the FIFA Congress amid a vast corruption scandal engulfing world football’s governing body. FIFA was rocked on Wednesday with the arrest of several of its officials on corruption charges, but it was adamant that its congress and leadership vote would go ahead as planned this week. [caption id=“attachment_2268230” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Prince Ali bin al Hussein. Getty[/caption] The Asian Football Confederation, a key ally of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, and the Confederation of African Football have both insisted Thursday that the FIFA congress and presidential election should go ahead as planned. But the European confederation UEFA said the election should be postponed. Lowy, speaking in Zurich after a round of meetings, said it was time for ‘profound change within FIFA.’ “FFA believes that profound change within FIFA is needed as soon as possible to address issues of governance and transparency,” Lowy said in a statement released in Australia late Thursday. “This belief will be reflected when Australia casts its vote in the Presidential election, should it proceed on Friday in Zurich. “The Board of FFA has reviewed the manifesto for change proposed by Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein and believes it provides the basis for a fresh start for FIFA.” Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan is the only rival to embattled FIFA incumbent Blatter should Friday’s election take place. AFP