Everything you missed during the 9-hour FIFA presidential election

By foxsports
Published

It only took over nine hours, but FIFA has a new president. 

Congratulations are in order for Gianni Infantino, but also to all those who were able to sit through this entire, agonizingly slow process.

FS1's coverage of FIFA's "Extraordinary Congress" in Zurich kicked off at 3am ET Friday morning, and while our heroes Rob Stone and Alexi Lalas remained on the air all the way through the second and final round of voting, spurred along by what we can only assume was enough caffeine to kill a small horse, somehow a few brave souls on Twitter kept them company.

It is through that lense of social media that we take a look back at the proceedings, and get all of you normal, smart humans who decided to stay in bed, up to speed with what transpired.

First, Rob Stone revealed how he prepped for this nine-hour marathon: Red Bull and 7/11 snacks!

The Congress couldn't have started more promising, when a standard test of its electronic voting system produced this head-scratcher:

Next, a kindergarten-style roll call for the most powerful organization in sports. You know, because why not. It's not like we're in the 21st century.

Full disclosure: that took about 10 minutes. It felt like 45. 

About two hours in, FIFA's only accomplished the roll call, some filler speeches and the appointment of "the scrutineers" (whatever that means). This prompts some terrible ideas from Lalas and Stone:

Hey, look! Stu Holden popped in... unvoluntarily

Finally, some news. FIFA passes huge reforms package, universally deemed vital to the organization's survival.

And now, lunch! Awww yissss.

Then, it was time for the five candidates' final speeches before the first ballot. The key moment there: Tokyo Sexwale suspending his campaign after a bizarre speech, basically disappointing everyone:

Five hours into our coverage, the first ballot begins!

And the results are in... we need a second ballot (Oh joy!)

Finally, after another two fun hours none of us will ever get back, finally, a winner: Gianni Infantino!