UEFA overwhelmingly elected surprise candidate Aleksander Ceferin of Slovenia as its new president Wednesday and he vowed to review a deal over Champions League places for major clubs.
Advertisement
The 48-year-old Čeferin 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.
Unlike in England, the Scottish FA did back Ceferin, and its chief executive Stewart Regan was full of praise for the new president: “He visited us in Glasgow a few weeks ago and talked us through his manifesto. So too will the fact he was backed by nations of all sizes with big guns such as Germany, Russia, France and Italy all part of the 42 votes he amassed”.
Aleksander Ceferin leaves after a press conference at extraordinary UEFA congress in Athens.
Numerous smaller nations involved in Uefa backed Ceferin after plans emerged for changes to the flagship Champions League competition whih would allow more established clubs from bigger countries to gain more places.
Ceferin also hinted at a review of Financial Fair Play regulations, insisting that they “should be enforced better” because “the gap between the rich and poor clubs is a big one”.
Obviously people trust me.
Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin is elected as the new president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
“What I know is that I’m a team player, a man of conviction, a passionate man and a man of his word. We were one of the first countries to come out in support of Ceferin because he is a new, positive voice who will maintain the solidarity of European football”.
Ceferin is elected for a period of two and a half years.
The lean shaven-headed Ceferin said he has also crossed the Sahara five times, four in a vehicle and once on a motorbike.
“It means a lot to me, and to my family, who are very proud about it”.
Ceferin’s most pressing tasks include reassuring the smaller associations in UEFA over recent changes to the Champions League which favour bigger countries and the bidding process for the 2024 European Championships.
“For too long football has not been on the agenda enough, football has been politicised”.
“Alex and myself have the same goal, look at our programs”, van Praag said. Angel Maria Villar has been serving as “acting president” since October past year.
Reinhard Grindel, the German federation president, viewed Ceferin’s election as a vote against the UEFA establishment, including Van Praag of the Netherlands.
He will succeed Frenchman Michel Platini, who quit his post after being banned from football for four years.
“It’s very emotional for me to be here”, said Platini.
“I have a clear conscience, I am certain not to have made any mistake and will continue to fight this in the courts”.
“Thank you for your fantastic support”.
Advertisement
“And the most important thing for me is the president we’ve got achieved something important: a clear, strong majority”. I don’t want to live in an empire of fear where every day we wake and see another negativity surfacing.
