New FIFA president Gianni Infantino has English blood

Gianni Infantino, the new FIFA president, has revealed he has English blood.

The Swiss, who was backed by UEFA and the English FA, had complications at birth on March 23, 1970, and needed a blood transfusion.

And that help came from England and the former Yugoslavia, Infantino has disclosed in an interview with Swiss newspaper Blick.

Just days after beating Sheikh Salman and three other candidates to succeed Sepp Blatter, Infantino said: "When I was born I had a health problem - something was wrong with my blood. 

"You had to make a blood transfusion at birth. At that time that was a huge problem, and you had to raise my blood from England and the former Yugoslavia. It was flown to Zurich.

"Forty-five years later, I am FIFA president. It is like a dream."

Infantino beat Salman, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein and Jerome Champagne in a second round of voting, after edging into a three-vote lead over Salman, the favourite, in round one.

"I have practically not slept since - only a few minutes maybe," he said. "I have probably not yet fully realised what just happened. 

"We have celebrated with the family a little, drank a glass of red wine. But I am very emotional, but also energised and driven.

"Now we also have the reforms, which require at least six women - at least one per confederation - to sit on the future FIFA Council. The promotion of women in football and women's football is now also enshrined in the FIFA Statutes.

"And I have the family pressures at home [from my wife and my mother]."

Infantino opened FIFA's new museum in his first official act as president of soccer's governing body on Sunday.

"This is the place where football will be lived and breathed," he said. "Here you can catch the football virus, if you are not already a carrier. This is only about football."