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French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet has predicted that Gianni Infantino will be voted the new leader of FIFA on Friday "by a short head." Le Graet, 74, announced last month that Infantino, 45, is his preferred candidate to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of world football's governing body. Infantino, UEFA's general secretary and acting president, is one of five people standing in Friday's FIFA presidential election. Bookmakers expect the Swiss to face a battle with Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa to secure the most votes with delegates in Zurich. Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Jerome Champagne and Tokyo Sexwale are also in the running. Speaking after the candidates made their final pitches on Thursday, Le Graet said he had not changed his mind about voting for Infantino, who rose to prominence as the right-hand man of suspended UEFA president Michel Platini. "I think he's the best candidate," the FFF president told reporters. "He's someone who has a lot of experience, who worked with Michel in a very positive fashion at UEFA. "He's had an exceptional career. He's an intelligent, cultivated man who works a lot, who knows football and management well. He's a complete man and an excellent candidate for FIFA. I think I'm voting for the winner ... in general, in France we vote for the winner. "It's an election that's going to be difficult. There are good candidates but I think he has a slight advantage and will win by a short head." The election is taking place at a time when FIFA's reputation is at a low point following a series of corruption scandals. Several officials were arrested ahead of last year's annual congress, while outgoing president Blatter has been banned from football. But Le Graet was impressed by what he heard from the presidential candidates on Thursday. "They're all passionate," he said. "They presented in 10 minutes not a programme but their personality. They used the same words, with the desire to work together to restore the image of FIFA, which is necessary. "We shouldn't forget that that's tomorrow's debate. Today the word FIFA is controversial in the whole world." Le Graet expects most European football associations to back Infantino and said it was a "tragedy" that Platini would not be there. The former France midfielder had wanted to stand for election but has also been banned from football. "The wish of UEFA is that he might return to his position in the shortest time possible," Le Graet said. "He still has an important battle to lead at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. [It's] the last one, which could be extremely difficult. I think it's a big tragedy that the president of UEFA might not be present."
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