ZURICH — Gianni Infantino pulled off a stunning victory Friday to take over as FIFA president and called for a fresh start for soccer’s scandal-wracked world body.

“I am convinced a new era is starting,” said Infantino, who became a candidate only when financial wrongdoing removed his own boss at Europe’s soccer body UEFA, Michel Platini, and the departing FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, from the sport.

Infantino promised to meet with World Cup broadcasters and sponsors, saying they “they need to regain trust and confidence in football and in FIFA.”

Infantino, a 45-year-old former lawyer from Switzerland, rose to the top job after a tense, six-hour election process to find Blatter’s replacement.

Infantino got 115 of the 207 eligible votes in the second round to earn a decisive majority over Sheikh Salman of Bahrain, who had been the strong favorite entering the election.

He saluted voters by patting his right hand over his heart, and had to compose himself before his acceptance speech.

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“We will restore the image of FIFA and the respect of FIFA. And everyone in the world will applaud us,” Infantino said, referring to bribery and corruption investigations that have rocked the governing body and forced Blatter out of office after more than 17 years as president.

Sheikh Salman received 88 votes in the second round after being the front-runner during much of the four-month campaign. Prince Ali of Jordan had four votes and Jerome Champagne of France got zero.

In the first round, Infantino took a surprising lead with 88 votes, just three more than Sheikh Salman but key to making him look like a winner with valuable momentum. Prince Ali received 27 votes and Champagne seven.

Infantino, the general secretary of UEFA, is the second straight FIFA president from the Valais region in the Swiss Alps. Infantino is from Brig and replaces Blatter, 79, who was born in neighboring Visp.

Infantino will be president until May 2019, completing the remainder of Blatter’s term.

Blatter was forced out by the pressure of American and Swiss investigations of corruption that hit FIFA two days before the previous election in May.

“I congratulate Gianni Infantino sincerely and warmly on his election as the new president,” Blatter said in a statement. “With his experience, expertise, strategic and diplomatic skills he has all the qualities to continue my work and to stabilize FIFA again.”

Not since 1974 has a second-round vote been held in a FIFA presidential election. Then, Joao Havelange of Brazil beat 13-year incumbent Stanley Rous of England.


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