Even in this country, his project has forged a program - in conjunction with ex-Socceroo Mark Robertson - where football can make a difference in indigenous and underprivileged communities.

Australians should feel incredibly humbled that Prince Ali has chosen this country to make his campaign launch. The tweet that declared his intention to run was sent as he made his way to the airport to fly to Australia for the Asian Cup.

King Hussein's third son will spend the days leading up to Friday's Asian Football Confederation Congress in Melbourne testing the waters of interest among the region's powerbrokers. It is at the congress that the world's media expects to hear him speak for the first time. But Australia can do more than be a gracious host. The FFA ought to be among the first federations getting their weight where it matters. They should be on the front foot actively backing the 39-year-old.

As it stands, we're at risk of being one of those nations that sits around championing change, yet without doing a whole lot about it. In the same boat sits England and the US. None have produced a credible alternative to Blatter. Talk, talk, talk.

They generally resort to playing the don't-rock-the-boat-too-much card when the opportunity for change actually arises. That why the FFA has previously backed Blatter at FIFA and Mohammed bin Hammam in Asia - before he was given a life ban, that is. Public morality has proven brittle under the pressure of political necessity.



Plenty will tell you the current Asian chief, Bahrain's Sheikh Salman, remains tight with Blatter and will resist Prince Ali's overtures. Salman said in November that Asia has already committed to the incumbent. Blatter may even make an appearance at the tournament's closing. But Europe will back Prince Ali on May 29. So, too, will much of North America and chunks of South America. Although Blatter plays Africa like a piano, the pan-Arab nations could be be swayed. And with four months until the vote, that's a considerable time for the new contender to drum up moral support.