THE INSIDER
The reign of Ceferin
The Slovenian will step down as UEFA president when his term ends in 2027
Leaders of the world’s sports federations are infamous for their reluctance to step aside. Many, FIFA’s Gianni Infantino among them, appear to equate the welfare of the membership with their own continuance in power.
UEFA, in all its 70 years, has been led by only seven presidents. Two died in office (Gustav Wiederkehr and Artemio Franchi), one stood down through ill health (Jacques Georges) and one was banned from football by FIFA (Michel Platini). Only one was voted out (Sweden’s Lennart Johansson). But worn down? That was the new twist delivered by Aleksander Ceferin when he handed congress his notice, three years ahead of time.
Several of the executive committee were not amused that the 56-year-old Slovene had let the media in on the secret at a post-congress press conference before he had informed them.
Of course, Ceferin has a long run-in during which he may change his mind or acquiesce to any member associations begging him to hang on for the third and last full presidential term now confirmed as available to him. He told journalists: “Honestly, I’m tired after COVID, two wars, nonsense projects of a Super League…I decided around six months ago that I am not planning to run in 2027 any more. The reason is that after some time every organisation needs fresh blood, but mainly
because I was away from my family for seven years and will be away from them for three more.”
Ceferin, elected in September 2016, had been the antithesis of his predecessor Michel Platini, beating Dutchman Michael van Praag 42-13 at an extraordinary congress.
Platini had been a superstar footballer and headline-grabbing president before his FIFA ban.
Ceferin had been unheralded chair for only five years of the Slovenia FA before being propelled into power by a caucus of eastern European and Nordic federations who wanted “one of their own” to counter the grasping onslaught of the Champions League giants.
Four major issues have weighed on his shoulders during his tenure: FIFA, the COVID pandemic, the Super League and the perpetual agitation of Europe’s major clubs.
Ceferin’s reign at Nyon has closely tracked that of “Swiss neighbour” Gianni Infantino in Zurich. Infantino was voted into office in February 2016 and Ceferin seven months later, both elected initially to complete the terms of office of predecessors Sepp Blatter and Platini.
Infantino was considered a behind-the-scenes supporter of Ceferin but mutual admiration faded within months, initially amid Chinese interest in bidding to host the 2030 World Cup. Ceferin immediately snapped: “It��
