Warsaw - The Polish football federation (PZPN) voted in Grzegorz Lato as its new head during a gathering of delegates on Thursday, as the former president stepped down amid a corruption investigation.

Lato is a former Polish football great, and will be taking over the position vacated by Michal Listkiewicz.

Lato said in his acceptance speech that he wouldn't be able to do the job alone, and called on other officials to work and make Polish football "clear" of corruption, "so that we could together make Euro 2012 our shared success."

One hundred and thirteen delegates voted after hours of heated speeches at a gathering in Warsaw.

The other candidates were Zbigniew Boniek, a former Polish footballer and coach who was ranked by FIFA in the top 100 best-ever players and current federation secretary general Zdzislaw Krecina, who was also charged last week with mismanagement of funds.

The voting came after a recent dispute between PZPN and football's governing body FIFA.

FIFA and UEFA had threatened Poland with sanctions unless the government allowed the federation to elect a new leader.

The Sports Ministry recently made a motion to suspend PZPN officials in an effort to clamp down on corruption. But FIFA warned Poland could lose upcoming World Cup qualifying games and the rights to co-host Euro 2012 unless it reinstated its leadership.

FIFA later withdrew its ultimatum after saying a letter from the ministry and federation showed a "positive evolution in the situation of the PZPN."

The investigation into Polish football was launched in May 2005, and so far has charged nearly 100 people that include referees, officials and members of the football federation. (dpa)