Fifa presidential election: Ex-Manchester United chief executive David Gill named vice-president knowing he'll resign if Sepp Blatter wins vote

Gill has already confirmed he will reject the role if Blatter is re-elected

David Gill and Sepp Blatter (Reuters)

David Gill took to the stage at the Fifa Congress meeting in Zurich to shake hands with president Sepp Blatter and accept his role as vice-president of the world governing body for football – knowing that he will reject the post if Blatter is re-elected this evening.

Blatter is bidding for a fifth term as Fifa president against his sole opponent Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, but the Swiss has been urged to resign after a long-term corruption investigation led to 14 arrests of current and former Fifa members on Wednesday.

With seven of those arrests coming in Zurich – including the Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb – Gill announced at a Uefa Confederation meeting that he will refuse the post should Blatter be re-elected.

However, before voting got underway at the Fifa Congress, Gill was welcomed up on stage by Blatter to present him as the new vice-president, with the sense of farce quickly spreading through the world’s media.

With Blatter and Prince Ali making their final speeches after the election ceremony got underway, voting is due to commence at 4pm, with a result not expected until 5pm at the earliest.