Paralympic gold medallist Ivan Potekhin has been elected as the new President of the All-Russian Football Federation for Persons with Cerebral Palsy ©IFCP

Paralympic gold medallist Ivan Potekhin has been appointed as the new President of the All-Russian Football Federation for Persons with Cerebral Palsy at a special conference in Moscow.

He replaces Avtandil Baramidze, the founder of the Federation, who had died in September.

Under Baramidze's leadership, Russia won five medals at the Paralympic Games, including gold at Sydney 2000 and London 2012, silver at Atlanta 1996 and Beijing 2008 and bronze at Athens 2004.

Russia has also lifted the World CP Football Championships title six times, in 1997, 1998, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.

In addition, they had won the European Championships in 2018.

The 41-year-old Potekhin was a member of the Russian team at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games, as well as London 2012.

Ivan Potekhin, in white, was a member of Russia's seven-a-side cerebral palsy football team that won the Paralympic Games gold medal at London 2012 ©Getty Images
Ivan Potekhin, in white, was a member of Russia's seven-a-side cerebral palsy football team that won the Paralympic Games gold medal at London 2012 ©Getty Images

"The conference was attended by 42 delegates from 18 constituent entities of Russia, who elected the governing bodies of the Federation," the national governing body said in a statement.

"The champion of the Paralympic Games and vice-president of the Russian Paralympic Committee Ivan Potekhin was elected President of the Federation.

"The Executive Committee was also elected, which included eight people, four of whom are former athletes, champions and medalists of the Paralympic Games."

At the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Federation, which took place immediately after the end of the conference, Potekhin’s Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 team-mate Andrey Kuvaev and the former coach of the national team Izolda Chkonia were elected vice-presidents.

Paralympic champion Lasha Murvanadze, winner of a Paralympic gold medal alongside Potekhin at London 2012, has been appointed head coach of the national team.

Under Avtandil Baramidze, who died in September, Russia won five medals in cerebral palsy football, including two gold medal at Sydney 2000 and London 2012 ©IFCP
Under Avtandil Baramidze, who died in September, Russia won five medals in cerebral palsy football, including two gold medal at Sydney 2000 and London 2012 ©IFCP

"The delegates of the conference of the All-Russian Federation of Football for Persons with Cerebral Palsy elected experienced and highly qualified specialists who know their business well," Potekhin, who is also the athletes' representative on the Board of the International Federation of CP Football, said.

"Our team intends to continue the glorious traditions of football development laid down by the founder of football for persons with cerebral palsy in Russia - the head coach of the national team Baramidze, whom many of his pupils, including me, were perceived as a father."

Cerebral palsy seven-a-side football was dropped from the Paralympic programme after Rio 2016 but is currently campaigning for inclusion at Los Angeles 2028.

Russia, meanwhile, is currently banned by the International Paralympic Committee following the invasion of Ukraine in February.

The ban meant that Russia were unable to defend their World CP Football Championships title in Spain earlier this year.