Australia has made a bold declaration of its reformist zeal at FIFA, backing Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein to succeed disgraced leader Sepp Blatter in the world football body's presidential elections.
Football Federation Australia had agonised over the decision for some weeks but announced their decision less than 24 hours before the vote in Zurich on Saturday morning (AEDT).
The Jordanian royal is an outsider in the contest - believed to be between Bahraini frontrunner Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and European football insider Gianni Infantino.
But FFA chairman Steven Lowy said Australia wanted to continue to progress change at the scandal-ridden organisation, and Prince Ali was the best candidate to do so.
"Prince Ali is a long-standing and consistent advocate for reform at FIFA and his manifesto spells out a clear vision of the way forward," Lowy said in a statement from Zurich.
"FFA believes there is merit in continuing to support Prince Ali.
Prince Ali lost last year's presidential election 133-73 to Blatter, with the long-term president later resigning his post as corruption allegations swirled.
Last November, FFA chief executive David Gallop held direct talks with Prince Ali in Amman when Jordan defeated the Socceroos 2-0 in their World Cup qualifying match.
A cross-continental FFA board phone hookup was arranged to make the final decision, which goes against the wishes of the Asian confederation.
The AFC executive committee resolved to back Sheikh Salman.
Sheikh Salman's candidacy, while popular with Asian and African nations, is not unsullied.
He continues to be dogged by allegations he helped to identify protesters who were then tortured in Bahrain's pro-democracy uprising of 2011.
Alongside the vote is a reform package shaped by the Australian representative at FIFA's top table, Moya Dodd.
Lowy paid tribute to her work and pledged to vote for the proposal.
"In addition to reforms on term limits and better governance, we are especially proud to support the reforms on gender equality," he said.
"FFA board member Moya Dodd has been a leading advocate for gender equality and she has played a pivotal role in getting this issue on the FIFA agenda.
"It is critical that the reforms are implemented with conviction and that they signal a new beginning for FIFA."
Rounding out the five-man presidential field are outsiders Frenchman Jerome Champagne, an ex-FIFA general secretary, and Tokyo Sexwale, the South African anti-apartheid campaigner involved in the 2010 World Cup in that country.
