Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan said on Tuesday he would stand for the presidency of world football's governing body FIFA later this year.

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The current FIFA vice-president and head of the Jordanian and West Asian Football Federations said he had been encouraged to stand in the May elections in Zurich against incumbent Sepp Blatter and challenger Jerome Champagne.

"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," Prince Ali said in a statement on Tuesday.

"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 game deserves a world-class governing body — an International Federation that is a service organisation and a model of ethics, transparency and good governance."

WHO IS PRINCE ALI?

– Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein is the son of Queen Alia and the late King Hussein of Jordan.

– After completing formal education in the USA and UK he enrolled at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst near London and served in the Jordanian Special Forces as a pathfinder.

– In 1999 he completed his undergraduate education at Princeton University, USA. 

– Prince Ali is the president of the Jordanian Football Association, and also the founder and president of the West Asian Football Federation – under his presidency the membership of the latter increased to 13 countries.

– Prince Ali successfully championed the lifting of FIFA's ban on the hijab in women's football.

– On 6 January 2011 he became the vice-president of FIFA for Asia, defeating his opponent Dr. Chung Mong Joon
by 25 votes to 20.