AMMAN (AFP) - Fifa vice-president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan said on Tuesday he would stand against incumbent Sepp Blatter for the presidency of world football's governing body later this year.

"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 on his official Twitter feed.

Prince Ali, who was elected Fifa vice-president for Asia in 2011, said he had been encouraged to stand after discussing the forthcoming election with colleagues in the sport.

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

"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."

Fifa has been steeped in controversy and allegations of corruption since Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

Prince Ali was one of the most senior Fifa officials to call for the publication in full of a report into Russia and Qatar's winning bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

"The world's game deserves a world-class governing body - a service organisation and a model of ethics, transparency and good governance," he tweeted.

"The headlines should be about football, the beautiful sport, not about Fifa."