Berlin, Oct 09 (V7N)- UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has announced that he will seek a fourth term in office, reversing his earlier decision not to stand for re-election in 2027.
Ceferin announced his decision on Thursday (October 8) during a meeting in Berlin with the presidents and general secretaries of UEFA’s 55 national associations. He said he had accepted their unanimous request to reconsider his earlier position.
Ceferin had said in February 2024 that he did not intend to seek another term. However, he has now confirmed that he will contest the election at the 51st UEFA Ordinary Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan, on April 22, 2027. If elected, he could remain in the position until 2031.
The announcement comes amid growing tensions between UEFA and FIFA President Gianni Infantino over FIFA’s governance and a proposal to involve private investors in the commercial management of its competition rights.
UEFA and its member associations have called for changes to FIFA’s leadership and governance, arguing that institutional reforms alone would not be sufficient. They have called for a new leader with experience in football, integrity and a commitment to reform.
Meanwhile, former Switzerland international and Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega has announced his intention to run for FIFA president in 2027. He has become the first candidate to publicly declare a challenge to Infantino, according to BBC Sport.
UEFA has not yet named an official candidate to challenge Infantino. Discussions among European football associations about FIFA’s future leadership and proposed reforms are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
END/SMA/AJ
