Football Federation Australia's switch of allegiance away from embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter was welcomed Friday after the country's football chief said FFA will be voting for challenger Prince Ali of Jordan.

FFA chairman Frank Lowy, who had been a long-time ally of Blatter, said in a statement late Thursday that the FFA would be supporting Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein as FIFA's next president to seek a fresh start for football's tainted governing body.

But some in the media said Lowy and the FFA risked alienating the Asian Football Confederation of which it is a member after the AFC reiterated its support for Blatter in Friday's FIFA presidential elections.

However, in a major switch in FFA's position, Lowy urged change.

"FFA believes that profound change within FIFA is needed as soon as possible to address issues of governance and transparency," he said in the statement.

"This belief will be reflected when Australia casts its vote in the presidential election, should it proceed on Friday in Zurich.

"The board of FFA has reviewed the manifesto for change proposed by Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein and believes it provides the basis for a fresh start for FIFA."

The FFA's decision received widespread support and approval in Australian football circles on Friday.

"The move will be welcomed in Australia, where criticism of Blatter and the FIFA culture has been vociferous," wrote The Age's sports reporter Michael Lynch.

Politician and mining tycoon Clive Palmer tweeted: "Frank Lowy's showing great leadership in opposition to #FIFA's @SeppBlatter. As a former #ALeague team owner I support Lowy #FIFAarrests."

But FFA's new position on Blatter has raised fresh concerns over its standing within the AFC.

"So where does this leave Australia?" The Sydney Morning Herald's football writer Mike Cockerill said, adding "by voting for Prince Ali he (Lowy) risks alienating the Asian hierarchy".

He went on: "To me, it's a risk worth taking. Thankfully, Lowy informed us about which way he intend(s) to vote -- the football community had a right to know.

"Australia's other interest, of course, is in a possible re-opening of the bids for the 2022 World Cup if Blatter goes and/or the FBI finds enough hard evidence that Qatar bribed their way to success."

The Age said Lowy and his FFA executives still face renewed questioning about the Australian bid for the 2022 World Cup.

"But his supporters and the Australian football community will be glad to see that this country has joined those wanting to end the Blatter regime," it said.

"Australia's close dealings (with) former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, one of the numerous high-ranking FIFA powerbrokers arrested, will be scrutinised. As will Lowy's conversations with disgraced FIFA executive-turned FBI informant Chuck Blazer."

The Age said Warner was given Aus$462,000 (US$354,000) worth of Australian taxpayers' money to support football development in his country of Trinidad as the FFA chased his influence to gain supporters as it campaigned for the 2022 tournament.

The Australian government spent some Aus$46 million on its 2022 bid, which received just one vote of support.