Ceferin’s bid for a fourth UEFA term reshapes European leadership

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin announced at a gathering of the 55 national association chiefs in Berlin that he will stand for a fourth term as head of the continent’s governing body, overturning the February 2024 pledge that he would not seek re‑election. The 58‑year‑old Slovenian made the decision clear to delegates, signalling a fresh chapter for European football.

Statutes change clears the way

The move follows a long‑running row over a change to UEFA’s statutes that would allow Ceferin’s first mandate, which began in 2016, to fall outside the three‑term limit. Critics had feared the amendment would open the door for a fourth spell, while UEFA argued the revision was legally necessary.

Two years ago in Paris, Ceferin had told the congress he would step aside, but the Berlin meeting showed a shift in sentiment, with growing expectation that the incumbent would run again.

Implications for the FIFA showdown

Ceferin’s renewed candidacy comes as UEFA intensifies its campaign to unseat FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who recently abandoned a controversial plan to sell competition stakes to private investors after widespread opposition.

While Ceferin has ruled out challenging Infantino directly, he pledged to help find a unifying candidate for the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March.

He also confirmed that the UEFA congress on 22 April in Astana, Kazakhstan, will be the venue where his fourth‑term bid is formally presented.

Der report noted that no other official has publicly expressed interest in the post, and that Ceferin’s leadership in the power struggle with FIFA remains a focal point for European football’s future.

Last year, after retracting his earlier withdrawal at a Belgrade assembly, Ceferin left the door open for another term, reinforcing his position as the principal opponent of Infantino within the sport’s governance.