FIFA Election: Prince Ali, the man to determine football's fate?

The FIFA elections are just days away.

One of the main contenders is Prince Ali who has served as Fifa’s Vice-President for Asia for the past four years.

Just arrived in Zurich and ready for an exciting few days shaping the future of football

— Prince Ali (@AliForFIFA) February 23, 2016

Announcing his plans to stand for president months ago, Prince Ali said: “It is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport.

“The headlines should be about football, not about Fifa.

FIFA has been hit by allegations of corruption in recent times, but Ali and a number of others seeking to replace outgoing President Sepp Blatter say they are in to do the necessary house cleaning.

The son of the late King Hussein and the late Queen Alia, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977, Ali attended Sandhurst military academy before joining his country’s armed forces.

After beginning his education in Amman, Prince Ali moved to the UK to complete his officer training at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst in 1994.

He then spent some time serving as a pathfinder in the Jordanian Special Forces, before finishing his education in the US at Princeton University.

The people’s choice: New poll by newfifanow shows AliBinAlHussein would win #FIFA election if fans could vote. https://t.co/vW75W1LN3h

— Prince Ali (@AliForFIFA) February 22, 2016

On his return to Jordan, the prince took up leadership of the Jordanian Football Association.

During his tenure as Jordanian FA President, he campaigned to increase the involvement of women in football in the country and he was instrumental in FIFA’s decision in 2010 to lift a strict ban on women wearing the hijab while playing.

Sepp Blatter’s opponent in the May 2015 elections, he withdrew from the race after the first round of voting showed Blatter was far ahead.

Ali has requested for transparent voting booths for Friday’s elections. FIFA has faltly turned down the request.

FIFA needs transparency, and that should start with how it elects its next President. https://t.co/1FA15IgCYE

— Ali Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) February 22, 2016

The British media say lawyers for the FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al Hussein have called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to suspend Friday’s election.

Whoever comes out victorious in Friday’s polls will have a lot to do to reclaim a glory that has been lost thanks in part to evidential corruption.

Prince Ali and the others will have a lot of work to do, the constant travels may not suffice.