Today is a sad day for football: FIFA presidential candidate

Madrid, May 27: FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein described the arrest of six officials of the world football governing body in Switzerland on Wednesday as a "sad day for football".

Al-Hussein, who will challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA top spot this Friday, issued a brief statement after the arrests earlier on Wednesday of six FIFA members over corruption charges in Zurich, Switzerland, reports Efe.

"Today is a sad day for football. Clearly, this is a developing story, the details of which are still emerging. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time," said a note from the Jordanian Prince.

New York prosecutors are investigating those arrested for allegedly having received or paid bribes totalling more than $100 million from the early 1990s until now, according to a Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police statement.

Those detained were in Zurich for activities at FIFA's world headquarters prior to the organisation's congress on Friday, at which it will elect its president for the next four years.

Al-Hussein is challenging Sepp Blatter in the election, the latter standing for a fifth consecutive term.