Newly-minted FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the media - and the world - for his first ...

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Gianluca Nesci

Supervising Editor

<p>Newly-minted FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the media - and the world - for his first official press conference as the leader of football's governing body on Friday, giving a brief statement and answering a handful of questions about various topics that will consume his day-to-day life for the next three years.</p><p><strong>Related - <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968349" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968349">Gianni Infantino elected as FIFA president</a></strong></p><p>Here are the highlights of the Swiss-Italian's comments:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>On the FIFA staff</strong></p><p>"I count on them. I believe in them. We will do great things together."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gianni Infantino, new FIFA president, opens by addressing FIFA staff, who have been through a difficult time w/o a leader. Nice gesture.</p>— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamBorden/status/703292942547599362">February 26, 2016</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>On the work he will usher in at FIFA</strong></p><p>"I want to bring FIFA back to football and football back to FIFA."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">New FIFA President <a href="https://twitter.com/Gianni_2016">@Gianni_2016</a> tells the world: "You will be proud of FIFA, you will be proud off what FIFA does for football"</p>— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobHarris/status/703292159320059905">February 26, 2016</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>On the notion that only Europe will benefit from his election</strong></p><p>"I want to see a big development of football all over the world, in all countries, and I want to see some concrete actions by FIFA and each and every association when it comes to football development ...</p><p>"I want people looking at FIFA as the organization that helps to develop each country in the world when it comes to football."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"I will show to the whole world I am not a candidate of Europe, I am the candidate of football &amp; football is universal" - Gianni Infantino</p>— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/fifamedia/status/703295749501665280">February 26, 2016</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>On Michel Platini</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Infantino asked why he didn't mention Platini in speech today: "I thank Michel Platini for everything he has given me &amp; taught me"</p>— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobHarris/status/703294200843018240">February 26, 2016</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>On appointing a new general secretary</strong></p><p>"I have a couple of ideas on the position of general secretary ... it is a decision of the FIFA council at the end of the day."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Infantino: "today not the moment" to speak about who will be new Fifa Secretary General.</p>— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) <a href="https://twitter.com/richard_conway/status/703294000787296258">February 26, 2016</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

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There's a new chief in town.  Friday in Zurich, Switzerland, to the surprise of many, Gianni Infa...

<p>There's a new chief in town.</p><p>Friday in Zurich, Switzerland, to the surprise of many, Gianni Infantino - the amicable Swiss-Italian administrator best known for his oversight of UEFA draws and mastery of several languages - was elected as the new president of FIFA.</p><p><strong>Related - <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968349" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968349">Gianni Infantino elected as FIFA president</a></strong></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>In succeeding disgraced and deposed president Sepp Blatter, Infantino defeated Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, the Bahraini candidate who went into the day as the consensus favourite to assume the role.</p><p>The election required a second ballot, as neither Infantino nor Sheikh Salman garnered the necessary two-thirds majority on the first ballot. That said, the opening ballot did, to the surprise of many, see the European receive <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968379" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968379">88 votes - three more than his favoured counterpart</a> - which set the wheels in motion for his eventual victory.</p><p>His 115 votes easily outdid Salman's 88 in the second round of balloting, which required only a simple majority (104 votes) for a new leader to be crowned.</p><p>Here's everything you need to know from FIFA's presidential election:</p><h3><strong>All about the new boss</strong></h3><p>Gianni Infantino is moving up in the world. Gone are his ball-handling duties and his need to make unfunny jokes in an effort to fill dead air while on stage at UEFA draws. In their stead, the 45-year-old will now be tasked with overseeing the daily happenings in the world of football, and repairing the reputation of a governing body that has been crippled by corruption. Quite the promotion.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/162524/cropped_GettyImages-512429478.jpg?ts=1456501840"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968558" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968558">Will Gianni Infantino be the answer to football's prayers?</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968430" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968430">Infantino on FIFA scandal: 'You hide ... or you stand up and do the right thing'</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968496" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968496">Football world weighs in on FIFA's new president Gianni Infantino</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968525" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968525">Sepp Blatter hails Gianni Infantino as a worthy successor</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968572" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968572">VIDEO: The moment Infantino officially replaced Blatter as FIFA president</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968595" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968595">New president Infantino: 'You will be proud of what FIFA does for football'</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968611" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968611">Putin vows Russia will work with Infantino over 2018 worries</a></li>
</ul><h3><strong>What happened to Sheikh Salman?</strong></h3><p>Considered the heavy favourite heading into the election, Sheikh Salman's bid to become FIFA's ninth president took a massive blow in the opening round of voting and never recovered.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/162464/cropped_GettyImages-512429492.jpg?ts=1456492799"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968356" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968356">FIFA avoids further disgrace with Sheikh Salman's defeat</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968354" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968354">PHOTOS: Police on hand as anti-Salman protesters arrive</a></li>
</ul><h3><strong>Prince Ali never had a chance</strong></h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/161900/cropped_REU_2374265.jpg?ts=1456238517"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><ul><li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968541" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968541">Prince Ali falls short of FIFA presidency despite admirable intentions</a></li></ul><h3><strong>The real star of the show</strong></h3><p>Tokyo Sexwale, the South African businessman and former prison mate of Nelson Mandela, delivered the most enrapturing speech of the candidates. He was funny and engaging ... and then he removed himself from the race for FIFA's top role in a brilliant mic drop to conclude his speech - and kick the day's proceedings into high gear.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/162459/cropped_GettyImages-512427004.jpg?ts=1456492538"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><ul><li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968321" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968321">Sexwale withdraws from presidential race before 1st round of voting</a></li></ul><h3><strong>What else happened at FIFA's extraordinary congress?</strong></h3><p>The election, though it was obviously the highlight of FIFA's extraordinary congress on Friday, was but one of 12 items on the agenda for football's governing body. </p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/162508/cropped_GettyImages-512445218.jpg?ts=1456498802"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968329" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968329">FIFA votes to back reform package at extraordinary congress</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/968372" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/968372">VIDEO: FIFA handles paper votes in archaic fashion during presidential election</a></li>
</ul>

New president Infantino: 'You will be proud of what FIFA does for football'

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