Ceferin was backed the FAI to take up the role but has been unknown for the last three months, however he will now become president of the world’s most powerful footballing body after Michel Platini was forced to resign. In an interview to ESPN FC, Ceferin had revealed his ideas and how he would like to change the way European football is run. “An era of stability, hope, balance and football”, Ceferin said.
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UEFA increased the number of places allocated to clubs from Spain, England, Germany and Italy in the lucrative group stage and cut the slots for the smaller countries.
“We must give the smaller nations respect”.
“UEFA is a very good and very strong organization”.
Ceferin said UEFA should show the clubs “we are the ones who are the governing body”. “But he wanted to do it his way and I wanted to do it my way”.
He said football faces many problems ranging from match-fixing and doping to racism. I think we did a great job.
Prior to the vote, Ceferin used his 15-minute pitch to delegates at the Grand Resort Lagonissi hotel to address the concerns about his age and experience, while boosting his credentials as a “team player” who will be “the most accessible and approachable UEFA president ever”.
“We should stop with politics, plots, lack of transparency, self interest”.
“You are going to continue this handsome mission without me, for reasons that I do not wish to come back on”.
Van Praag said: “Aleksander and I have the same goal”. Ceferin did not say that he outright opposed the measure however.
“You are going to continue this wonderful mission without me”, Platini told delegates.
The Slovenian lawyer was delighted to be named president of the prestigious union, and highlighted the changes he wants to make in European football. “This is my last speech to a UEFA Congress. Thank you very much”, he said after the vote.
It related to a payment of 2m Swiss Francs Blatter made to the Frenchman in 2011.
The new president will remain at the top of European soccer’s governing body for about two years to complete the mandate Michel Platini had to abandon due to his four-year ban rom the game. He officially resigned in May.
“Dear friends, thank for your fantastic support”. I can handle it, but it does hurt a little right now.
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Platini was originally suspended for six years and though his appeals to Federation Internationale de Football Association and the Court of Arbitration for Sport have failed, the ban has been cut to four years.
