Aleksander Ceferin, the president of Slovenia’s football federation, was overwhelmingly elected as the new head of European soccer’s governing body UEFA at an extraordinary Congress on Wednesday.
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The 48-year-old received 42 votes from UEFA’s member associations and follows Ebbe Schwartz (Denmark), Gustav Wiederkehr (Switzerland), Artemio Franchi (Italy), Jacques Georges (France), Lennart Johansson (Sweden) and Michel Platini (France), who have all served as UEFA President since the body was founded in 1954.
Ceferin said UEFA’s members wanted a return to calm after the storm that surrounded Platini but that the body has to be a leader in good governance and transparency.
“I guarantee you, on my watch I will not allow the clubs to put the gun to our head again”, Ceferin said.
“I hope that based on the foundations laid out by Platini he will improve UEFA”, Mutko added.
Thirdly, I would change the bidding process for big competitions and finals for the Champions League, European Championship and other major events.
“I am certain that I committed not the slightest fault”, said Platini.
Platini was banished along with Blatter over a payment of two million Swiss francs ($A2.8 million) made to the Frenchman by Federation Internationale de Football Association with Blatter’s approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier. “You are going to continue this wonderful mission without me”.
“Dear friends, thank you for your fantastic support”, Ceferin said in a speech to the congress.
“I will have to sit down with all 55 national associations to see what is the agreement and what we can do in the future about it”, he told a press conference after his victory over Van Praag.
The father-of-three, who spoke fluent English throughout, has not provided too many policy details so far but did say he wants to bring in term limits, revamp the executive committee and set up a compliance committee.
“Thank you. Thank you for these nine years”.
He will succeed Frenchman Michel Platini, who quit his post after being banned from football for four years. That’s exactly how it is, we have the same goal, look at our programmes, we want a better UEFA.
“But today democracy has spoken and I respect that”.
Spain’s Angel Maria Villar, UEFA’s acting president since Platini resigned in May, withdrew his candidacy last week.
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“I would like to wish the new president every success”.
