Carlo Tavecchio elected president of Italian Football Federation

Carlo Tavecchio has been president of the Italian National Amateur Leagues since 1999

Carlo Tavecchio has been elected as the new president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

The 71-year-old caused controversy during his election campaign after making a racist comment about some players being "banana eaters".

Tavecchio beat former AC Milan player Demetrio Albertini in the vote.

"I will be a president for everybody, and especially for those who have legitimately expressed their dissent about me taking the job," he said.

Tavecchio secured 63.63% of the vote in the third round of polling, compared to rival Albertini's 33.95%.

He replaces Giancarlo Abete, who resigned along with national team coach Cesare Prandelli in June after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup in Brazil.

The voting delegation comprised 278 representatives from Serie A, Serie B, the Lega Pro, the Amateur League, the Players' Association, the Coaches' Association and the Referees' Association.

The Lega Pro, which represents 60 third and fourth division teams, last week said nearly all of its members would back Tavecchio, who had been vice-president of the FIGC since 2009.

One of Tavecchio's first duties will be to help choose the successor to Prandelli as Italy national team coach, with former Juventus boss Antonio Conte the current front-runner for the role.