LONDON: Gianni Infantino says he will not appoint a fellow European to run the FIFA administration if he is elected president, indicating he wants an African to fill the role of secretary-general.

The Swiss-Italian candidate, who is UEFA's general secretary, said he would rapidly seek to replace the fired Jerome Valcke if he wins the February 26 FIFA election.

Infantino told reporters in London on Monday: "What we want to do is open the doors of FIFA administration. I am convinced the general secretary of FIFA should not be European. Why not an African?"

One obvious candidate would be Hicham El Amrani, the general secretary of the African confederation.