THE world of football let our a squeal of joy yesterday as a viable challenger announced his decision to stand against Sepp Blatter for the Fifa presidency.

Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan threw his crown into the ring for the contest in May, ensuring some opposition in Blatter’s bid to claim a fifth term.

English FA chairman Greg Dyke and Uefa president Michel Platini were among those welcoming Fifa vice-president and Jordanian FA head Ali’s candidacy.

Dyke, who has previously called for Blatter not to run again, said: “It is very important that there is a credible candidate standing against Mr Blatter and Prince Ali is certainly that.”

Platini, another stringent critic of Blatter, added: “I know Prince Ali well. He has all the credibility required to hold high office. We now await his proposals and his programme for the future of football.”

The FA board will make the decision about who to support once nominations close on January 31 but Prince Ali already has close ties with the organisation.

The only other person to have stated they will stand for Fifa’s top job is Frenchman Jerome Champagne, but it remains uncertain whether he would get the minimum five countries to nominate him.

Britain’s Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce said it was important for the democratic process for there to be a proper election in May, saying Ali was held “in the highest esteem.”

Ali said in a statement: “I am seeking the presidency of Fifa because I believe it is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport.

“This was not an easy decision. It came after careful consideration and many discussions with respected Fifa colleagues over the last few months.

“The message I heard, over and over, was that it is time for a change. The world’s game deserves a world-class governing body — an international federation that is a service organisation and a model of ethics, transparency and good governance.”

Blatter has held his position as Fifa president since 1998 and will be running for a fifth term at the 65th Fifa congress in Zurich on May 29.

The governing body has been engulfed by controversy in recent months over the decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

Champagne is a former Fifa deputy secretary-general. 

All nominations for the top job have to be made before January 31.