Australia says Sepp Blatter's shock decision to quit the FIFA presidency is only a first step to ridding the stain of corruption from soccer's governing body.
Blatter, who won a fifth term as president last week amid arrests of FIFA executives, quit suddenly amid reports he's under FBI investigation.
'First step towards reforming soccer'
Football Federation Australia, which voted against Blatter, said his resignation "is just the first step" towards reforming soccer.
"The challenge is not just to change the top elected position, but the governance structure at all levels and the culture that underpins it," the FFA said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Australia will remain an active voice within the forums of FIFA and Asian Football Confederation in promoting governance reform and a new era of transparency."
Former FFA official and whistleblower Bonita Mersiades agreed.
"We shouldn’t see this as the endpoint of reform. We should see this as the beginning because there is a lot more to do," Mersiades told SBS.
"We ought to be advocating for a complete systemic change - and that means have an independent, eminent person come in a lead that. Because FIFA, under its current regime, even with its president resigning, is incapable of reforming itself."
SBS soccer commentator and former Socceroo Craig Foster said it was heartening to see soccer changing for the better.
"We can finally see a light at the end of the sordid FIFA tunnel, and to think what can happen with football when well managed and ethically led, is just extraordinary."
Choosing a new leader
Blatter told a press conference at FIFA's Zurich headquarters he no longer had "a mandate from the entire world of football".
The 79-year-old, who was FIFA president for 17 years and was re-elected on Friday, will remain in charge until a special congress can choose a new leader - unlikely until December at least.
Jordan's Prince Ali bin al Hussein is favourite and confirmed he'll run again, after being the sole candidate trying to unseat Blatter at last Friday's election.
Australia bucked its overarching Asian Football Confederation by voting for Prince Ali but in a brief statement, Asia's governing body sat on the fence on Wednesday.
"The AFC is closely monitoring the situation and will discuss with its member associations and sister confederations in order to find the best way forward for both FIFA and world football," it said.
'Australia should put its hat in the ring for 2022'
Australians, and much of the soccer world, were more forthright.
"It's a beautiful day for a beautiful game," Senator Nick Xenophon told ABC radio, adding that Australia should put its hat in the ring if the 2022 World Cup was stripped from Qatar.
Australia's $46m bid to host the 2022 World Cup received just one vote of support in a process now under fresh investigation by Swiss officials.
Independent senator Xenophon called on the auditor-general to investigate Australia's failed bid to host the
2022 World Cup amid corruption allegations.
The senator has written to Ian McPhee requesting an inquiry into the taxpayer-funded 42.25 million-dollar bid by Football Federation Australia.
He also wants an earlier $500,000 payment made to former FIFA executive Jack Warner, who is facing indictment in the US.
Senator Xenophon has told reporters in Canberra if the FFA got duped by Mr Warner Australian taxpayers may also have been duped to the tune of 45 million given to the FFA as part of the World Cup bid.
'A brave and right decision'
FIFA's head offices were last week raided by the officials, who acted as US authorities arrested 14 FIFA executives and sports marketing executives, accused of a $150 million bribery scheme.
Seven FIFA officials were arrested in a dawn swoop by Swiss police on the luxury five-star Zurich hotel ahead of the executive meeting which re-elected Blatter.
Blatter, according to the New York Times and ABC News in the US, is under investigation by the FBI and US prosecutors behind last week's indictments.
Sponsors including Coca Cola, who had voiced concern at the FIFA corruption scandal, and European soccer chiefs, who last week asked him to quit, said Blatter was right to quit.
"It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision," said UEFA president Michel Platini.
English Football Association chief Greg Dyke, one of the fiercest critics of Blatter, queried the timing, saying there must be more to it.
"Why didn't he step down last week? Clearly there's a smoking gun of some sort," he said.
German Football Association president Wolfsgang Niersbach, also a FIFA executive committee member, summed up the mood.
"It's a tragedy why he didn't spare us all, and himself, by doing this sooner," Niersbach said.
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