Fifa election - as it happened: Gianni Infantino elected Fifa president

Swiss-Italian wins the race to be the most powerful man in world football

The new Fifa President, Gianni Infantino (Getty)

Here are the latest updates

• Gianni Infantino wins with 115 votes 
• Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa comes second with 88 votes
• Reform vote offers chance of change, not Blatter's successor
• The one reform which might actually make a difference
• Little hope for a brave, new, transparent governing body
• Prince Ali bin al Hussein reprimanded for speaking out about rival candidate
• Governing body dismisses fears over Sheikh Salman human rights record

Follow all the latest from Zurich with our live blog below...

Please allow a moment for the live blog below.

With Fifa set to elect a new leader to herald a brave new era, it remains to be seen if any of the presidential candidates running can offer the change craved so keenly by the masses beyond the corridors of their exhibitionistic Zurich home.

Each candidate will make a 15-minute long speech before the voting process begins. The first vote is expected to take place at 1.30pm.

If no candidate earns a two-thirds majority, a second vote will be held. Further votes will be held until the congress decides upon a majority winner.

Bahrain's Sheikh Salman, Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali of Jordan and Jerome Champagne in contention. Tokyo Sexwale dropped out this afternoon with little suggestion he would recieve enough backing to challenge.

Before the election in the summer of 2015, arrests were made at the request of the United States Department of Justice. Many remain under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in co-ordination with Swiss authorities, over corruption allegedly involving more than $150m (£98m) worth of bribes dating back 24 years.

On Wednesday, Blatter and former Uefa counterpart Michel Platini saw their appeals against eight-year bans, for a "disloyal payment" of £1.3m between the pair, rejected but their suspensions were reduced from eight to six years by Fifa's appeals committee.

[26 February 2016 12:01 · Samuel Stevens]

[26 February 2016 12:08 · Samuel Stevens]

Sheikh al Khalifa addresses the room

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain has just had his say on how Fifa should go forward from their recent dark days. The bookies' favourite has called for togetherness and discussed the option of expanding the World Cup from 32 teams to 40. "I am not ready to mortgage the future of Fifa," he said.

Coming from Asia, I know trying to bridge the gap between the smaller and bigger nations is vital. I think today proves that what I’ve been saying is true. We have to act responsibly to do the best for Fifa, and the survival of Fifa. I’m not ready to mortgage the future of Fifa just for election purposes.

We will talk about the World Cup, whether to increase the teams from 32 to 40. If the right justification is there, then yes, we will support it. We have to include everyone: the national associations, the clubs, the players, the NGOs. The president is one man, the head of a council and I have to convince the council that each decision we take is the right one. It has to be teamwork.

[26 February 2016 12:11 · Samuel Stevens]

[26 February 2016 12:12 · Prince Ali]

Excited for what today’s election can bring. Fans, players and coaches across the world are watching – let’s deliver a FIFA to be proud of.

[26 February 2016 12:20 · Samuel Stevens]

Jerome Champagne up next

Frenchman Jerome Champagne takes to the podium to discuss a number of the issues surrounding his proposals to lead Fifa. After supporting some of the decisions made under Sepp Blatter's reign, the outgoing president's former adviser then calls for more opportunities for women to excel in the game.

We need to make Fifa more feminine. I want to create a division for women’s football. I will introduce a world collective bargaining agreement to track transfers around the world.

Vote for the candidate that has the knowledge of the world. I know what has been done wrong and right in the last 40 years. Vote for the candidate who an unblemished integrity record.

Reforms have been adopted, but much needs to be done. We need to ensure that Fifa remains strong and united. We need diplomacy and perseverance to achieve these goals.

[26 February 2016 12:37 · Samuel Stevens]

Gianni Infantino up on stage

After so long at Uefa, most notably as general secretary, Gianni Infantino understandably spoke about his thoughts on European football before discussing the wider global population. Speaking in various languages, the 45-year-old's most notable quote includes the assertion that Fifa's money is not the president's money to do as he pleases. Can't imagine who he is referring to there.

Europe has to do much more. We have to break down the walls that exist in football. I am committed to do much more.This will be done as of tomorrow. Europe is the continent that forged me, where I was given the chance to work. That’s why, when I speak about figures, I know what I speak about. When I’ve been managing Uefa, the revenues have gone up nearly three times... in a time of financial crisis.

The money of Fifa is your money, not the money of the Fifa president. If we develop football with Fifa’s money, the world will look at us and applaud us.

[26 February 2016 12:39 · Samuel Stevens]

 

Miguel Delaney

@MiguelDelaney

Fifa: (any excuse to post this bit really) https://t.co/PyxSPjpYGC

11:16 AM - 26 Feb 2016

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[26 February 2016 12:44 · Samuel Stevens]

BREAKING: Tokyo Sexwale pulls out of the Fifa presidential race during his speech to congress. 

Now that's how to make a name for yourself. It helps when your name is Tokyo Sexwale, of course. The 62-year-old South African was the last of five candidates to address the 207 voting members who will decide on the successor to Sepp Blatter.

My campaign ends today and I suspend my participation. I leave only four people.

[26 February 2016 12:46 · Samuel Stevens]

 

Indy Football

@IndyFootball

BREAKING: Tokyo Sexwale withdraws from #FIFAelection during his speech https://t.co/iDqldfpYe2https://t.co/pHCWG0jlB3

12:45 PM - 26 Feb 2016

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[26 February 2016 12:51 · Samuel Stevens]

Tokyo Sexwale steals the showWell, well, well. This certainly isn't dull, contrary to popular belief. Tokyo Sexwale, knowing he is the rank outsider, has just left the podium. Just as he had the congress in the palm of his hands with a barnstorming speech in Zurich, the South African hits us with the news he is withdrawing from the race. More on that later, for now here are his views on the Fifa crisis.

‘Extraordinary congress’ means a crisis, and we can’t talk about football I am sorry we lost our friends, Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke. I hope one day they can resolve their problems, and we will be able to help them. Nelson Mandela told us never to rejoice in the pain and misery of others.

We came to fix our own family - Fifa. Football is not broken. Football is fine. It’s not rocket science, it has problems, it must be grown. The task is to change is to change the playing fields from brown patches to green fields.