Gianni Infantino becomes the most powerful man in world soccer after winning a FIFA presidential race he appeared to enter out of necessity more than desire.
It took two rounds of voting for world soccer leaders meeting in Switzerland to select Infantino, 45, the sport's titular head.
Infantino is general secretary of Europe's soccer agency, UEFA. He emerged from voting ahead of Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan and the former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne. Tokyo Sexwale of South Africa withdrew moments before the first vote.
European soccer was left without a strong candidate to replace disgraced Sepp Blatter.