FIFA has endorsed proposed governance reforms for Football Federation Australia and urged the four state federations who are threatening to block them to change their minds.
FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura wrote a letter on Wednesday to FFA chairman Steven Lowy, informing him of the global body's support for sweeping changes recommended by the eight-member congress review working group (CRWG).
It effectively sounds the death knell for Lowy's leadership of the sport, following his announcement last week he would not seek re-election as chairman if the reforms were passed.
As expected, Samoura said the proposals to expand the FFA congress were "fully in line" with FIFA statutes and directed them to be adopted by FFA at an extraordinary general meeting as soon as possible.