The vote for the presidency of Fifa, football's world governing body, has gone into a second round after neither candidate won two-thirds of the vote.
The incumbent Sepp Blatter took 133 votes to 73 for Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan.
The second round requires a simple majority of the 209 federations.
The vote has been overshadowed by corruption allegations after seven top officials were arrested in Switzerland on Wednesday in a US prosecution.
'Current storm' The vote is taking place at Fifa's congress in Zurich.
A candidate needed 140 votes to win in the first round and Mr Blatter will be heavily favoured to secure the simple majority needed in the second round to gain his fifth term in office.
The two candidates had earlier delivered final appeals to the electors.
Prince Ali said that questions had been raised in recent days "about whether our Fifa family is morally bankrupt".
He said: "There are no easy answers and no blame that can be cast that will wash away the stain that marks us all.
"Today is about the first step towards a process of change - a new dawn to break through the darkness," Prince Ali added.
Mr Blatter said: "I am being held accountable for the current storm - so be it, I will shoulder the responsibility. I will take it upon myself and I want to fix Fifa together with you.
"At the end of my term I will be able to hand over a strong Fifa - one that is integrated and will have enough safeguards to not need political interventions."
To applause from a large number of delegates, he said: "I would like to stay with you. I would like to continue with you."
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