Gianni Infantino was elected president of The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on Friday, putting him at the top of soccer's global governing body as it tries to emerge from a sweeping corruption scandal.
European soccer's top administrator got 115 votes in the second round of balloting at Zurich's Hallenstadion, beating Bahrain's Sheikh Salman al Khalifa. The first new president since Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter took office in 1988, Infantino will help set priorities for one of sport's most powerful bodies and oversee the World Cup. He takes office immediately and will serve until 2019.
"We will restore the image of FIFA and the respect of FIFA, and everyone in the world will applaud us," Infantino said in his remarks, peppered with English, French and Italian.
Infantino, 45, was not originally considered among the top candidates.
He entered the race as a placeholder while his boss at UEFA, Michel Platini, appealed his ban from FIFA.
European soccer's top administrator got 115 votes in the second round of balloting at Zurich's Hallenstadion, beating Bahrain's Sheikh Salman al Khalifa. The first new president since Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter took office in 1988, Infantino will help set priorities for one of sport's most powerful bodies and oversee the World Cup. He takes office immediately and will serve until 2019.
"We will restore the image of FIFA and the respect of FIFA, and everyone in the world will applaud us," Infantino said in his remarks, peppered with English, French and Italian.
Infantino, 45, was not originally considered among the top candidates.
He entered the race as a placeholder while his boss at UEFA, Michel Platini, appealed his ban from FIFA.