Ceferin announces his intention to run for a final term as UEFA president
Agencies3 min read
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Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin, president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), announced on Thursday his intention to run for a new and final term as president of the federation in the elections scheduled during the 51st Ordinary Congress of the federation on April 22, 2027, in the Kazakh capital, Astana.
Ceferin's announcement came during a meeting held in the German capital, Berlin, attended by the presidents and general secretaries of the 55 national associations that are members of UEFA, after the associations unanimously requested him over the past months to reconsider his previous decision not to run for a new term.
Ceferin, 58, said after the meeting: "I would like to thank the national associations for their trust. We have faced exceptional challenges over the past years, and we have overcome them as one team."
He continued: "There is still important work ahead of us, and that is why I accepted their request. My ambition remains the same: to preserve and strengthen the unity of European football, and to make UEFA ready for the next generation."
He added: "I am also very grateful to my family. This decision also carries a great responsibility for them, and I would not have taken it without their understanding and support."
Ceferin had previously announced that he would not seek re-election after his current term ends, but he decided to reverse his position in response to the pressure and support he received from national associations and components of European football.
Ceferin was first elected president of UEFA in September 2016, succeeding Frenchman Michel Platini, after receiving 42 votes against 13 for his Dutch rival Michael van Praag.
Ceferin was re-elected by acclamation for a new term in April 2023, after being the sole candidate for the position, with his current term continuing until 2027.
The Berlin meeting, in addition to the UEFA presidency file, witnessed discussions regarding governance reform and the future leadership of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
The European associations reiterated their position calling for a change in FIFA leadership, stressing that institutional reform alone would not be enough, and that the international federation also needs new leadership that enjoys respect and the ability to unite the various components of global football, in addition to vision, experience, and a commitment to development, reform, integrity, and independence.
However, this position did not receive the consensus of the 55 European associations, as 54 associations supported it, while the Football Federation of Azerbaijan did not join the statement regarding this position.
UEFA confirmed that discussions regarding FIFA reform and the future leadership of the international federation will continue between European national associations and their counterparts around the world.
It was also decided to hold a new meeting of the 55 national associations that are members of UEFA before November 17, 2026, to continue discussing the files of reform, governance, and the future leadership of global football.
Ceferin's decision to run for a new term is expected to change the landscape related to the upcoming FIFA presidential elections, as his name had previously been floated among the potential figures to challenge Swiss Gianni Infantino for the presidency of the international federation, before he settled his position by continuing to lead UEFA.
