The lean shaven-headed Ceferin said he has also crossed the Sahara five times, four in a auto and once on a motorbike. It means a lot to me.
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“When that thing (scandal) happened to Michel Platini, the Scandinavians called me and told me “we believe you would be the flawless candidate for president”, Ceferin told Ljubljana’s daily Delo.
“I was the first to bring to the same table the national associations of the former state (Yugoslavia), that we adopted a common positions and presented them to UEFA and by doing so improved our reputation within UEFA”, he told state television in a recent interview.
“You can say that I am young and experienced but I honestly think it disrespectful for all small and medium-sized federations who, 365 days a year, have to do more with less”, Ceferin said.
Van Praag, 68, likened himself to the “still rocking” Rolling Stones and said his age was his “USP” and his experience his greatest asset.
UEFA was forced to call the special election after Platini was banned by FIFA’s ethics judge a year ago for taking a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2 million) from the global governing body in 2011.
The 48-year-old Ceferin will complete Platini’s four-year presidential term through 2019, while the former France captain serves a four-term Federation Internationale de Football Association ban over an improper payment.
Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn did not go as far as van Praag, the man the FA backed, but said the deal was a “balancing act” between the desires of the big clubs, the more aspirational clubs, broadcasters and commercial partners, and the threat of a breakaway “had some substance to it”.
Platini used most of his allotted 10 minutes to praise football and UEFA but he started by repeating that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
“You are going to continue this wonderful mission without me, for reasons that I won’t go into”, added the former France and Juventus star. This is my last speech to a UEFA congress.
“I hold no grievance against anybody who didn’t support me – everybody is entitled to their own belief”.
He then reminded the audience at Athens’ five-star Grand Resort Lagonissi of what he said when elected UEFA president for the first time in 2007.
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The European Club Association, which is the independent body directly representing football clubs at European level, congratulated Ceferin following his election and expressed a desire to build a positive working relationship.
