Ceferin reverses decision, will seek final term as UEFA president
Ceferin reverses decision, will seek final term as UEFA president
BERLIN: UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has reversed his decision to step down and will stand for a final term as head of European football’s governing body. Ceferin told the presidents and general secretaries of UEFA’s 55 national associations in Berlin on Thursday that he would seek re-election at the 51st UEFA Ordinary Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 22 April 2027.
Why Aleksander Ceferin changed his mind
Ceferin said the 55 associations had asked him unanimously over recent months to reconsider his plan to leave when his current term ends in 2027. “I want to thank the national associations for their trust,” he said. “There is still important work ahead, and I have therefore accepted their request.”
The Slovenian, 58, was first elected in 2016 after Michel Platini resigned following a ban from football-related activities. If re-elected in Astana, he would lead UEFA until 2031 in an unprecedented fourth term.
UEFA sharpens its challenge to FIFA
The Berlin meeting also hardened UEFA’s campaign against FIFA president Gianni Infantino. UEFA said all 55 associations except Azerbaijan backed a package of FIFA reform proposals, adding that the associations had “lost confidence in the current FIFA leadership”.
The proposals call for a separation of powers inside FIFA, an empowered Bureau with defined executive authority, a reinforced FIFA Council, and a president who “leads, not manages”. They also demand protection for ethics and audit bodies from executive interference, and a guarantee that FIFA Forward development money reaches member associations without political strings attached.
The timing matters. Former Switzerland defender Ramon Vega said on Wednesday he would challenge Infantino in FIFA’s presidential election, becoming the first declared challenger ahead of the 18 November deadline. Ceferin himself ruled out a run in August, saying he would not stand against Infantino.
The term-limit twist
Ceferin is only able to stand again because UEFA changed its statutes at the 2024 congress in Paris, lifting the three-term limit on the presidency. England’s Football Association opposed the change, but it passed. At the time Ceferin insisted he would still step down in 2027, saying he had made up his mind months earlier. Thursday’s announcement reverses that pledge.
What happens next
UEFA said a further meeting of the 55 associations will be held before 17 November, a day before the deadline for FIFA presidential candidates. The Astana congress on 22 April 2027 will then decide whether Ceferin gets his final four years, a vote that will shape the balance of power between UEFA and FIFA for the rest of the decade.
Frequently asked questions
When is the UEFA presidential election?
The vote takes place at the 51st UEFA Ordinary Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 22 April 2027.
Why did Aleksander Ceferin change his mind about stepping down?
He said Europe’s 55 national associations had unanimously asked him over recent months to reconsider, and that important work remained to be done.
Will Ceferin challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency?
No. He ruled that out in August. Former Switzerland defender Ramon Vega has declared he will stand against Infantino instead.
What reforms is UEFA demanding at FIFA?
A separation of powers, an empowered Bureau, a reinforced council, a president who leads rather than manages, protected ethics and audit bodies, and development funding free of political interference.
