Tavecchio took 54.03 per cent of votes in the third round, while Abodi picked up 45.97 per cent.

The 73-year-old incumbent will now serve a four-year term.

"I’m emotional, it’s normal to be so," Tavecchio said after triumphing at the FIGC Elective Assembly in Rome.

"I acknowledge my challenger Andrea Abodi for his proper conduct, but now I say that we must find the strength to unite.

"I’m sure that I did my duty; I said that I would try to keep up with commitments and I didn’t promise more.

"I hope to see a more united Federation from today."

Abodi was the President of the second tier of Italian club football, Serie B, for six-and-a-half years before stepping down in order to campaign for the FIGC's top job. 

"Another life begins tomorrow," he said.

"I hope that Carlo Tavecchio and the Federation build on this contest."

Tavecchio was first elected the FIGC President in August 2014, despite facing heavy criticism over allegations of racism at the time. 

The former FIGC vice-president was at the centre of a racism row after calling African players "banana eaters" during a summer assembly of Italy's amateur leagues.

Less than two months after being elected President, Tavecchio was banned from football for six months by UEFA as a result of the comments.

His initial election followed the resignation of former President Giancarlo Abete, who stepped down immediately after Italy's embarrassing early exit from the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

Although Tavecchio won all three rounds of voting this time round, he did not manage to garner the three-quarters of votes required to triumph in the first round, nor the two-thirds needed for the second.