Gianni Infantino profile: Who is the new Swiss-Italian Fifa president?

The Swiss-Italian was elected as the man to replace Sepp Blatter as Fifa president this afternoon

Gianni Infantino, new Fifa president (Getty)

Gianni Infantino is the new Fifa president after securing a second round overall majority victory over favourite Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa.

The Swiss-Italian was elected as the man to replace Sepp Blatter as Fifa president after edging ahead of his rivals in the first ballot but failed to secure the two-thirds of the vote required to secure victory.

Infantino picked up 115 votes in the second round, eleven over the 104 he required, to secure the presidency in Zurich. Sheikh Salman, meanwhile, received the backing of 88 nations while Prince Ali al-Hussein was supported by just four.

At the top of his manifesto claims is the proposal to expand the World Cup from 32 nations to 40 in a move which is set to rile and please football associations in equal measure the world over.

"I cannot express my feelings in this moment," he told the Fifa extraordinary congress immediately after being elected. "I told you I went through an exceptional journey, which made me meet many fantastic people, who live and breathe football, and many people deserve to see Fifa is highly respected. Everyone in the world will applaud us for what we will do. Everyone will be proud of what we will do."

Infantino in profile

Age: 45

Country: Switzerland

Football experience: Uefa general secretary and master of ceremonies at its draws, such as the Champions League draw

Controversy: Announced his candidacy after Uefa president Michel Platini was banned from football-related activity. His close relationship with Platini, who is contesting a six-year ban for a £1.3million "disloyal payment" received from Sepp Blatter, has invited scrutiny.

Credentials: Infantino points to the success of Uefa, saying revenues almost tripled in the last seven years from five billion euros (£3.9billion) in a four-year period to 13 billion euros (£10.2billion) for the same timespan.

Fact: The 45-year-old lawyer is from Brig in the Valais region of Switzerland, less than six miles from Blatter's hometown of Visp.

He says: "You hide, or you stand up and do what is right to do for football, do what is right to do for Fifa. Fifa needs football, now more than ever."

They say: "We've worked together for nine years. He's a hard worker. I've got confidence in him." (Michel Platini, suspended Uefa president).

PA.