Bernstein appointed FA chairman

Former Manchester City chief David Bernstein has been confirmed as the new chairman of the Football Association.

A surprise nomination by the FA board in December, Bernstein was voted in by the FA Council on Tuesday.

He replaces Roger Burden, who has been acting chairman following Lord Triesman’s resignation last May.

Burden initially sought the role on a permanent basis but withdrew his application in December in protest of FIFA’s handling of the bid process for the 2018 World Cup.

England suffered a humiliating first-round exit in the FIFA vote, with hosting rights eventually handed to Russia.

A respected businessman, Bernstein was on the board at Manchester City for nine years, during which the club returned to the Premier League, before resigning in 2003.

The 67-year-old has been the chairman of Wembley Stadium since 2008 and will leave that position to take up his new FA post next week.

Bernstein will play a key role if finding a successor to England boss Fabio Capello, who will resign as coach after Euro 2012.