Aleksander Ceferin to Seek Fourth Term as UEFA President
European football's governing body president reverses previous stance and will run for re-election.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has announced he will stand for a fourth term as the head of European football's governing body, reversing a previous declaration that he would not seek re-election. The decision was communicated to the chiefs of all 55 national associations at a meeting in Berlin.
Ceferin, who was first elected as UEFA president in 2016, had indicated in February 2024 that he did not intend to run again. His potential re-election had previously been a point of contention when UEFA modified its statutes to allow for a fourth term. However, anticipation had been building that the 58-year-old Slovenian would reconsider his position.
The likelihood of his candidacy increased following UEFA's efforts to challenge FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Infantino had proposed a controversial plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors, a move that faced significant opposition and was ultimately scrapped. Ceferin has stated he will not run against Infantino for the FIFA presidency in March but remains committed to supporting a unified candidate for that election.