AUSTRALIA has emerged from its latest FIFA encounter with its conscience intact but its Asian status on shakier foundations.
A transparent Football Federation Australia boldly defied most of the Asian Football Confederation by refusing to back president Sheikh Salman in yesterday's FIFA election.
FFA chairman Steven Lowy confirmed that his board had backed Prince Ali to succeed Sepp Blatter, but gave the winner, 45-year-old Swiss lawyer Gianni Infantino, a glowing endorsement.
Pressure was heaped on Lowy and FFA to vote for Sheikh Salman with rumours about Australia's status within the AFC - exactly 10 years after defecting from Oceania - swirling in the background in Zurich.
Eager to ensure transparency, Lowy informed Sheikh Salman and Infantino - previously UEFA's general secretary - of FFA's intention to vote for Prince Ali.
While voting for Sheikh Salman would've been the easy choice for FFA, it's believed that the rumours around the Bahraini's human rights record and alleged vote rigging meant they felt morally obliged to back Prince Ali.
"We don't expect any repercussions from that because we voted for a very credible candidate from Asia," Lowy said from Zurich. "Australia is a very important contributor to Asia on and off the field.
"While our initial support was for Ali, we're very pleased with the election of Infantino. He has deep experience in the game, and is a reform candidate, especially as a member of the committee that formulated the reforms.
"It was no secret that Australia would be pledging support for Prince Ali, it was important to support one of the Asian candidates in the first instance.
"It was no surprise to Sheikh Salman because we made it known to him once our board had made that decision." FFA's choice threatens to reopen - some would say widen - the rift between Australia and West Asia, Sheikh Salman's powerbase, who've viewed Australia cynically since Lowy orchestrated the switch in 2006.
The swinging second round of voting proved that FFA wasn't the only Asian nation that turned on Sheikh Salman (though it was the only one which declared it), who picked up 85 votes it the first round and just 88 in the second.
Infantino Picked up a majority 115 of 207 votes after initially securing 88. FFA will now hope to form an unofficial alliance with USA, England and several South-East Asian nations.While FFA declared it a "watershed day for FIFA" and "the best day FIFA's had in a very long time", leading voices have declared that the reforms do not go far enough.