YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. Gianni Infantino was named as Fifa’s new president after gaining a major vote at Fifa’s extraordinary congress on February 26, “Armenpress” reports citing Metro.co.uk website.

He succeeds the recently-resigned Sepp Blatter to become the first new leader of Fifa for almost 20 years.

Blatter, 79, had been in charge of football’s governing body since 1998 but decided to stand down amid a corruption crisis.

And 207 delegates from around the world gathered in Zurich to vote for his successor.

Infantino, 45, beat off competition from Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Tokyo Sexwale and Jerome Champagne.

Infantino has been the general secretary of Uefa since 2009.

Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein - FIFA/Fifa via Getty Images