[LIVE] FIFA Presidential Election: Infantino wins second round of voting, declared winner

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18:20(GMT)
_Previous FIFA presidents: Gianni Infantino joins the list _

1904-06: Robert Guerin (France)

1906-18: Daniel Woolfall (England)

1918-21: no president in place following Woolfall’s death

1921-54: Jules Rimet (France)

1954-55: Rodolfe Seeldrayer (Belgium)

1955-61: Arthur Drewry (England)

1961-74: Sir Stanley Rous (England)

1974-98: Joao Havelange (Brazil)

1998-2016: Sepp Blatter (Switzerland)

18:15(GMT)

What FIFA President elect said: Gianni Infantino

“(in various languages) friends! I cannot express my feelings in this moment.

“I told you I went through an exceptional journey which made me meet many fantastic people. Many people who love football, breathe football every day and many people that deserve that Fifa is highly respected and we will restore the respect of Fifa.

“We have to be proud of Fifa and what we will do together. We’re the sporting competition – four can not win and one will win. It is a great sign of democracy and I am proud to be president.”

“I want to work with all of you to restore a new era where we can put football in the centre of the stage.”

18:00(GMT)

And the winner is… Gianni Infantino

Out of 207 votes.

Prince Ali gets 4

Sheikh Salman gets 88

Jerome Champagne gets 0

Gianni Infantino is the new president of Fifa with 115 votes

17:49(GMT)
The votes of the 2nd ballot in the FIFA presidential election are now being counted.

16:57(GMT)
Election facts

The last time FIFA vote needed a 2nd round was in 1974. Which ushered in Brazil’s Joao Havelange.

16:40(GMT)
Second round voting

The second ballot of voting for the FIFA presidential election is underway with four remaining candidates.

In the 2nd ballot, a candidate wins if they obtain more than half of valid votes cast. The candidate with the least valid votes drops out.

16:10(GMT)
Results of 1st ballot: Valid votes: 207.

27 votes for Prince Ali

85 votes for Shk. Salman

7 votes for Jerome Champagne

88 votes for Gianni Infantino.

15:48(GMT)
The votes(207) of the 1st ballot in the FIFA presidential election are now being counted.

Sepp Blatter is at home in Zurich watching #FIFAelection on TV. Will release statement congratulating the new president tonight or tomorrow

— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) February 26, 2016

15:18(GMT)
Some African countries have taken turns to vote in the ongoing FIFA Elections. Countries voted so far include Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina faso, Senegal and Mozambique.

#Nigeria have cast their FIFA vote, up next is #Namibia #SSFootball #FIFAelection pic.twitter.com/4GEJdznvcR

— Clyde Tlou (@clydegoal) February 26, 2016

15:14(GMT)
It’s around half an hour to go until the end of round one voting, social media is buzzing with lot of activity.

And still the voting is in progress… #FIFAelection

— Diego Montalvan (@DMontalvan) February 26, 2016

If CAF vote as a block, the Sheik takes it. If not. . .#FIFAelection

— Colin NOT Collins (@ColinUdoh) February 26, 2016

Infantino: “I looked into the eyes of children in Africa. We have to help Africa.” How many African nations did he visit?! #FIFAelection

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) February 26, 2016

Good luck to our beloved Prince AliForFIFA the best candidate #FIFAelection #FIFA16 #fifaPresident

— Qusai Qaisi (QusaiQaisi) February 26, 2016

14:06(GMT)
Key facts of the election

Where is the election being held?
In Zurich’s 13,000-capacity Hallenstadion, which is one of the city’s largest entertainment venues.

Who is the favourite?
The election has emerged as a two-horse race between Sheikh Salman and Infantino.

How will the election work?
With two nations suspended (Kuwait and Indonesia), 207 of FIFA’s 209 members each get a vote. They will be summoned one at a time to vote in secret. If any candidate wins a two-thirds majority or 138 votes after the first round, he will be declared the winner. If this does not happen, the candidate with a simple majority in subsequent rounds will become the next FIFA president.

For the election of the FIFA President, two-thirds of votes of members present & eligible to vote are necessary in the first ballot.

If a two-thirds majority is not reached in the 1st ballot, all candidates may proceed to the 2nd ballot.

The FIFA presidential election is overseen by a public notary, scrutineers approved by the FIFA Congress & the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee.

The duration of each ballot is estimated to run for 1 hour 40 minutes. https://t.co/e8M2XHHuYt

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 26, 2016

13:45(GMT)
1st ballot of FIFA presidential election about to begin. How does the election work?

Each eligible member has one vote in the #FIFACongress electing the FIFA President.

Members present & eligible to vote will now proceed in alphabetical order to elect FIFA President in secret ballot

13:45(GMT)
Tokyo Sexwale will not win FIFA presidency. Tells delegates to vote for someone else.

“I’ve got a surprise for you… my campaign ends today. I withdraw and leave you with four people. I am a candidate of bringing four people together.”

“It is not the right moment to start a fire in your own house.”

“We must regain the trust of the public and the community out there so that Fifa can be the incredible organisation it was when it started.”

“It was a good run for me to run alongside the others. My campaign is suspended as from now. Thank you.”

13:44(GMT)
“people said ‘you know Tokyo, he’ll withdraw’. I’m a soldier, I die with my boots on! I’m here today.”

“We lost a president! And then a secretary general! And then we lost Michel Platini! And then we lost another four members at the hotel where I am staying!”

I’m not sure this is helping.

“I’m sorry about what happened to our friends… Mr Blatter. It’s very easy to throw away our friends. Nelson Mandela taught us never to celebrate the failings of others.”

“Fair play is supposed to be on the field and off the field. We have a problem.”

13:36(GMT)

Behind the exciting drama unfolding at the ongoing FIFA Congress in Zurich, the Europa league just announced a draw in which is an interesting Round of 16 fixture where Liverpool comes up against Manchester United.

Liverpool v Manchester United to be played March 10, with return leg at OT on March 17. Incredible Europa League draw.

The official result of the #UELdraw pic.twitter.com/V7xHNz5BPf

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 26, 2016

Looks like the football gods took all the fun to the Europa League.

— Lexis (@niilexis) February 26, 2016

13:34(GMT)
FIFA Presidential candidate Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale addresses the FIFA Congress.

13:33(GMT) Infantino’s speech earns round of applause, the first from the candidates.

13:18(GMT)
FIFA Presidential candidate Mr Gianni Infantino addresses the FIFA Congress

“We need a strong leader and that’s why I’m here. A leader alone can not do everything. I will need each and every one of you – I will be there for you every day and every night.”

13:15(GMT)
“What is the situation of football today? The globalisation has been good for the game. I live in the United States and look at the television figures beating the final of the NBA. Look at China, investing in football and bringing talent to China.”

“The campaign is over. Now is time to decide.**“Some of you are struggling to pay bills. Since 2012 and during this campaign I pushed for debates.

“We need to make sure FIFA remains strong again and need to rebuild image”

“Lets restore FIFA as a strong organisation”

13:08(GMT)
FIFA Presidential candidate Mr Jérôme Champagne addresses the FIFA Congress.

13:03(GMT)
Sheikh Salman up now

“I think it’s better to speak from the heart, rather than be dictated by a paper,” he says

“Trying to close the gap between the smaller nations and the bigger ones is right,” says Sheikh Salman.

12:45(GMT)
*FIFA Presidential candidate H.R.H Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein addresses the FIFA Congress*

“FIFA’s past must not be allowed to destroy its future.”

12:44(GMT)
The FIFA Presidential candidates now have the opportunity to speak to the FIFA Congress for 15 minutes each.

12:41(GMT)
Extraordinary FIFA Congress has resumed at the Hallenstadion hall in Zurich.

#FIFAelection candidate Gianni Infantino spends time with #Ghana team ahead of today's event. pic.twitter.com/UYBA5msw0w

— Ghana FA (@ghanafaofficial) February 26, 2016

12:30 (GMT)
FIFA presidential candidates: Who are they and what do they offer?

Profile:Gianni Infantino
Profile: Tokyo Sexwale
Profile: Jerome Champagne
Profile: Prince Ali

12:10 (GMT)
FIFA members taking lunch now. They will be back in an hour for election candidates’ pitches and presidential vote.

#FIFACongress lunch break with Magdi, President Magogo OfficialFUFA and colleagues FAZFootball pic.twitter.com/AAaf4XeMKD

— Kalusha Bwalya (@KalushaPBwalya) February 26, 2016

12:09 (GMT)
Here is a look of FIFA’s landmark reforms approved at the congress.*
11:59 (GMT)
This animated video provides info on the most significant set of reforms in FIFA’s history.

11:26 (GMT)
FIFA Congress approves extensive reforms and all statutory changes required to implement them. Vote count: 179 YES 22 NO (201 valid votes).

Mr Djimrabaye Bourngar of Chad is elected as the deputy chairman of the investigatory of the independent FIFA Ethics Committee.

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 26, 2016

Mr Canover Watson of Cayman Islands is dismissed from the Audit & Compliance Committee following his conviction in criminal proceedings.

11:22 (GMT)
Voting on the all-important reforms coming up. 2016 FIFA Reform Committee Chair, François Carrard, takes the stage in Zurich.

For the reforms to pass, 75% of members present and eligible to vote must be in favour of the necessary statutory changes.

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 26, 2016

11:14 (GMT)
The man who contested Sepp Blatter in 2015, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein received some support from Arsenal and Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil.

Good luck today for the #FIFA presidential elections to my friend, Prince Ali! #Change #FIFAelection pic.twitter.com/Zro72Tcyoz

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) February 26, 2016

11:00(GMT)
If you want to hear more from Issa Hayatou, FIFA has the “speech in full.

Full transcript of Acting FIFA President Issa Hayatou's opening address available here: https://t.co/CCjLOB0zMK

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 26, 2016

10:30(GMT)
Acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou has been speaking from Zurich.

Acting FIFA President Issa Hayatou addresses the #FIFACongress. https://t.co/e8M2XHpTzT pic.twitter.com/nU1QAuJw3O

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 26, 2016

“We will establish a more transparent, robust and responsible FIFA that people everywhere can respect again,” Issa Hayatou.

“This work of reform is a task we undertake together, in a spirit of collective responsibility,” Issa Hayatou.

“I am confident that the new president will make it his top priority to ensure we all take the necessary steps to rebuild FIFA,” Hayatou.

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