ZURICH (REUTERS) - Prince Ali Al Hussein, the man challenging Sepp Blatter for the most powerful job in world football, said he was saddened by the latest corruption scandal involving the sport's governing body Fifa.

Prince Ali issued a brief statement on Wednesday following the news that six high-ranking football officials, including two Fifa vice-presidents, had been arrested by Swiss police and detained pending extradition to the United States.

"Today is a sad day for football," Prince Ali said. The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said the arrested officials were suspected by US investigators of having received or paid bribes amounting to millions of dollars.

The timing could not have come at a worse time for Blatter, who is being challenged by Prince Ali for the Fifa presidency.