Gianni Infantino newly elected FIFA President

The 45-year-old Swiss has been elected president after securing 115 votes in the second round of polls and has vowed to restore the image of the game’s governing body

Gianni Infantino has won Fifa’s election for a new president, succeeding the disgraced Sepp Blatter.

Uefa’s general secretary secured 115 votes in the second round of polls, beating off favourite Salman Bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa into second while Prince Ali bin Hussein finished third.

Infantino succeeds the dethroned Sepp Blatter, who was suspended from all football activities for eight years – later reduced to six – along with ex-Uefa president Michel Platini for corruption.

“Dear friends, I cannot express my feelings in this moment,” he said in his acceptance speech.

“I told you I went through a journey, an exceptional journey, a journey which made me meet many fantastic people, many people who love, live, breathe football every day.

“We will restore the image and respect of Fifa.  People will applaud us, applaud you for what we will do.

“Everyone has to be proud of what we will do at Fifa. I want to thank you all, all 209 and the other candidates. Tokyo [Sexwale] decided four can win, one cannot win. We had a great competition, a great sign of democracy in Fifa.

“I want to be president of all 209 [member federations]. I have travelled the globe and I will continue to do this. I want to work with all of you together in order to restore and rebuild a new Fifa where we can put again football at the centre of the stage.”

– goal.com

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