The idea, understood to have had the backing of FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured left), would have seriously undermined the positions of Julio Grondona (right) of Argentina as well as FIFA's newest and most forward-thinking vice-president, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured below, left) of Jordan, neither of whom lead their respective confederations, South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

It is understood the draft proposal formed part of Blatter's reform programme and was recently discussed by at least one of the Task Forces set up to make FIFA more accountable and transparent.

Had it gained enough support, it could have been placed on the agenda at this week's Executive Committee meeting in Zurich and then tabled for approval at the FIFA Congress in Budapest in May.

But it was thrown out as unconstitutional after it was agreed to preserve the status quo of allowing individual confederations to elect who they like within FIFA's inner sanctum.


Although, as things stand now the proposal would only affect CONMEBOL and the AFC – and only take affect when current terms of office end.

If passed the ruling would have seriously diminished the right of each region to act unilaterally when it comes to choosing FIFA vice-presidents and have given world football's governing body the power to decide who can and can't represent them at the top table.

Ironically, the British FIFA vice-presidency that has stood for 66 years is under threat as part of the reform programme though, crucially, this is a nominated rather than elected position.

Last week, the English and Scottish Football Associations admitted the post, which has been shared between the four British associations since 1946 and is currently held by Jim Boyce of Northern Ireland until 2015, was an anachronism and no longer realistic.

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