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Political supporters of a playoff in college football's championship series claimed victory Tuesday after the firing of the head of the Fiesta Bowl.

The bowl fired its top official after a year and a half-long investigation sparked in part by a complaint by Playoff PAC, the political action committee founded by supporters of a playoff.

"I think it definitely shows the disadvantages of a system run by a few and for a few," said Matt Sanderson, one of the founders of Playoff PAC. "I don't think we would get this kind of behavior in an open and accessible playoff system."

The Fiesta Bowl fired its CEO, John Junker, on Tuesday after releasing a 284-page report alleging misuse of company money and a scheme to improperly reimburse almost $50,000 in campaign contributions. The investigation was set off by a Playoff PAC complaint with the Arizona secretary of state.

The Fiesta Bowl is one of the premiere bowls in college football, and! is part of the "Bowl Championship Series" (BCS), the four matchups between conference winners and other top teams, along with the national title game.

"I think this begs the question: what's going on at the other BCS bowls?" Sanderson asked.

Sanderson said the firing should help college football move toward a playoff, and would hopefully force wholesale reform. The PAC hasn't been active in soliciting donations, he said, so much as donated time from a slew of attorneys and accountants who also support a playoff.

BCS officials said they were "deeply disappointed and troubled" by the findings of the report, but made no mention of playoffs.

"Unprofessional, unethical or improper behavior is unacceptable. There is no place for such activities in higher education or in collegiate sports," said Graham Spanier, Chair of the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee and Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the BCS, in a statement. "It is expecte! d that all parties contracted with the BCS will live up to the! highest standards. We do not wish to be associated with entities that believe otherwise."

They said the BCD had appointed a task force to evaluate the Fiesta Bowl's findings, and had asked the bowl to demonstrate why it should remain a part of the BCS.

Updated 4:55 p.m.