FIFA contender Prince Ali urges leadership to restore confidence of fans

LONDON - Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, a candidate to succeed Sepp Blatter as the head of football's governing body, said on Wednesday that FIFA needed leadership that could restore the confidence of fans around the world.

Prince Ali of Jordan was speaking after top FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich accused of corruption by US authorities and Switzerland opened a criminal investigation into the awarding of the next two Football World Cups.

"We cannot continue with the crisis in FIFA, a crisis that has been ongoing and is not just relevant to the events of today. FIFA needs leadership that governs, guides and protects our national associations. Leadership that accepts responsibility for its actions and does not pass blame. Leadership that restores confidence in the hundreds of millions of football fans around the world," a statement from his office said.