UEFA has been turmoil over the past few months, the absence of Platini since October after he was suspended following a 2 billion euro payment from Federation Internationale de Football Association, while UEFA have also faced disquiet over changes to the Champions League.
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The 48-year-old – head of the Slovenian Football Association – also stated that he has not yet given consideration on running for re-election, with his term only running until 2019 – when Platini’s term would have ended. He received 42 of the 55 votes from Uefa members.
Speaking to ESPN FC this week, Ceferin outlined the three main things he would change about how European football is run. It’s a great honour but at the same time great responsibility. It means so much to me. It means a lot to me.and my family is very proud, and my small and handsome Slovenia is very proud about it.
Van Praag was gracious in defeat.
“We have the same goal, we want a different and better UEFA. But he wanted to do it his way and I wanted to do it my way”.
Platini earlier said his “conscience is clear” as he spoke to European football’s governing body for what is likely to be the last time.
On being elected Ceferin said: “My handsome Slovenia is very proud about it”. From 2018, the top four leagues – the Bundesliga, La Liga, the Premier League and Serie A – will benefit from four guaranteed group-stage places.
He then went on to talk about what he believed he had achieved and how he wanted to see UEFA go forward, whoever the national associations elected.
However, he could not shake off the perception he was part of the establishment, with his unequivocal pledge to renegotiate the Champions League revamp ringing hollow among those who knew he helped strike the deal. The EPFL described as “unacceptable” the way UEFA had handled the process “without the support and consensus” of the organisers of domestic league football in Europe.
“The most important thing is to give that leadership back to UEFA that clearly we have not had since Michel Platini had to step down previous year”, UEFA vice-president David Gill said.
Despite being banned from holding any position of power or involvement in soccer, Platini was allowed by FIFA’s ethics judge to address UEFA delegates on Wednesday as a “gesture of humanity”.
“You can say that I’m young and inexperienced but I honestly think it’s disrespectful to all the presidents of small and medium-sized federations who every year have to do more with less”, he said.
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“Dear friends, thank you for your fantastic support”, Ceferin said in a speech to the congress.
