NZ boss: Why we're voting against Blatter

Sepp Blatter speaks at the opening of the Fifa congress in Zurich. Photo / Getty

New Zealand Football (NZF) will vote against Sepp Blatter in tonight's Fifa presidential election and NZF president Mark Aspden said any consequences over their decision will illustrate what the critics of Fifa are saying.

Aspden said the allegations of corruption engulfing Fifa were "distressing" and that real change from the game's governing body could only be implemented with a new president in place.

Aspden said the decision to vote for the only other running candidate, Prince Ali, was unanimous across the executive committee.

"We need a change," said Aspden. "That was the thrust of the decision. In these decisions I guess you're weighing the devil you know with the devil you don't know."

"Who would win wasn't a big factor in our discussion. The most important thing for us was to vote for the candidate who we thought best represented the way we would like the global game to be.

"If there are any negative consequences of this decision, you would say that exemplifies what the critics of Fifa are saying. But we're prepared to wear them."

NZF have had a good relationship with Sepp Blatter over his 17 years as president and the country has been awarded three Fifa World Cups on his watch. In January, NZF along with all the member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation unanimously voted to give Blatter their support. But Aspden said NZF had prepared themselves for the possibility of this year backing the wrong horse.

"If there is a backlash, there will be a lot of people in the line with us so we will just have to wear that.

"We certainly haven't said we won't work with Fifa, or anything like that. This is a stance on who we wish to lead the organisation."

Aspden said he didn't think the decision would alienate New Zealand from the rest of Oceania, who were expected to all vote for Blatter.

"OFC doesn't give us direction with our voting. We are able to form our own view and that's what we have done.

"We don't speak for Oceania and we're unaware of how those 10 other countries are going to vote. Our decision is based on what we think is right for New Zealand Football."

"We're voting for Ali, not necessarily because we think he will succeed, but because we think it's the right thing to do."