Boyce, who was appointed to the role in June, believes the Football Association and Scottish Football Association's opposition to Sepp Blatter's unchallenged re-election as FIFA president meant Britain could lose its privileged status when the Northern Irishman steps down in 2015.

"Yes, there is a danger," Boyce told the Leaders in Football conference.

"I would be less than honest if I didn't say there was.

"The big worry now is that some of the European countries who always - as far as I'm aware - supported the British vice-presidency seat may now have a different interpretation.

"I honestly believe that bridges now need to be rebuilt."

FA chairman David Bernstein stood up at the FIFA Congress this summer to call for Blatter's re-election to be postponed, amid the corruption scandal that had engulfed the world game's governing body.

Only the SFA backed Bernstein's motion and he revealed this morning that other members of UEFA tried to prevent his intervention.

Boyce said of the FA and SFA: "They did what they felt they had to do but I think they did go against the wishes of several European countries.

"I did hear some comments afterwards in the hall amongst some of the people that were in the hall because of what happened in that particular Congress."

He added of the prospect of Britain losing the permanent vice-presidency they have held since saving FIFA from financial ruin after the Second World War: "I would hope that in my four years of vice-presidency that I can convince people that should not be the situation."

Britain's permanent vice-presidency of FIFA is enshrined in the organisation's statutes but there have been attempts in the past to challenge it.

Any change to FIFA statutes would require the support of 75% of their members, two of whom joined Boyce on stage this afternoon.

Executive committee member Dr Michel D'Hooghe and new vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein insisted they had no problem with the status quo.

Dr D'Hooghe was confident there was no immediate threat to the British vice-presidency.

But the Belgian added: "Nothing is eternal in life.

"The only thing that is sure is that life changes."

Bernstein's intervention this summer came after Mohamed Bin Hammam was forced to pull out of the FIFA presidency race amid bribery allegations against the former president of the Asian Football Confederation.

That was one of several corruption scandals to have engulfed FIFA in recent times and Blatter has promised to reform the organisation, with details of those changes set to be announced on October 21 following the next ExCo meeting.

"I wouldn't hold your breath," was Bernstein's response this morning to the impending announcement.

England 2018 World Cup bid chief Andy Anson went further, ridiculing FIFA's handling of recent scandals and labelling Blatter's desire to enlist the help of opera star Placido Domingo as "laughable".

Boyce hit out at the negative reporting of FIFA but added: "Let's try to get FIFA's name back again.

"Let's get rid of people who give FIFA a bad name.

"I honestly believe that's already started but it takes a bit of time.

"It can't be changed in three or four weeks."

Prince Ali, who at 35 became the youngest member of FIFA's ExCo when he was appointed in January, added: "Promises have been made.

"We have four years and, in four years, come back an hold us accountable."