Players must become the guardians of football in the wake of the crisis at FIFA which has left the game "tainted and besmirched with corruption", union chief Gordon Taylor has said.
Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) and honorary president of world players' union FIFPro, alleged that some officials at the world governing body had "feathered their own nests" and urged his members to seize the chance to make positive changes or "forever regret it".
Current and former FIFA officials have been charged with alleged involvement in corrupt behaviour in an FBI investigation, while separately a Swiss government inquiry is looking into possible wrongdoing in relation to the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
"The game has been tainted and besmirched with corruption at the highest level by custodians who have 'feathered their own nests' with monies meant to be used for facilities, pitches and players all over the world," he told FIFPro's European congress.
"The time is here to clean out the corruption and to place ourselves at the top table as guardians of the game.
"Our record is one of transparency not opaqueness, accountability not of obfuscation.
"We cannot and must not leave a vacuum in FIFA to be filled with the same toxic problems as before.
"If we do not intervene now we will forever regret it. We can start by recognising that if we do not do it and get to the high table it will be left to government organisations like WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), Interpol, the FBI, justice departments and the inland revenue.
"A game for players about players has not been run by players and we are now seeing the results."
Taylor believes a greater involvement by those who represent the players - former professionals Luis Figo and David Ginola both put themselves in the running for president before the last round of elections - can only be beneficial.
And he has called for a new era of openness to restore faith in FIFA.
"There is much to change in the organisation of FIFA," he added.
"It feels that even the location of its headquarters in a country where anonymity and secrecy prevail sets the wrong tone.
"It must be noted that this corruption that has been known about for many years has been led by the United States justice system rather than the Swiss Police.
"The way the World Cup venues have been chosen must change so that the process is transparent, incorrupt, fair and not wasting millions in a sham contest for venues laced with corruption.
"There needs to be complete accountability of all FIFA's incomings and outgoings by an independent, unbridled organisation and all salaries published with nothing capable of being hidden or lost.
"All this can be done as it was with the Olympics but players' voices must be heard and listened to as they are the constant throughout football's pyramid and the stronger their voice the better the game will be in the future.
"The time has come for players and their unions to seize the moment and bring a breath of fresh air, integrity and solid sensible leadership."
2018 hosts Russia and 2022 hosts Qatar have both strenuously denied any wrongdoing in their successful bidding campaigns.
Source: PA
