Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2027. This decision comes after Uefa voted to change its rules, which would have allowed Ceferin to potentially remain at the helm of European football’s governing body until 2031. The English Football Association (FA) was the only nation to oppose the rule amendment at a Uefa congress in Paris, arguing that leaders should serve a “maximum” of three terms of four years.
Under the previous rules, a president could serve three terms in office. However, the new ruling means that Ceferin’s initial term, when he replaced Michel Platini in 2016 part-way through a four-year cycle, does not count as a full term served. Despite a two-thirds majority of 49 nations voting to pass the motion, Ceferin later announced that he would not stand in 2027.
Ceferin explained his decision during a news conference, stating that he had decided six months ago not to run for re-election. He cited the need for fresh blood in every organization and emphasized the importance of spending more time with his family after being away for seven years. Ceferin also mentioned that he intentionally kept his decision private to observe the true intentions of some individuals.
Opponents of the motion, including FA chief executive Mark Bullingham, raised concerns about the change going against Ceferin’s promise to uphold cleaner corporate governance when he took over from Platini. However, Uefa general secretary Theodore Theodoridis dismissed this notion, stating that Ceferin’s decision not to disclose his plans beforehand was not an embarrassment for the FA.
The decision to allow presidents to potentially serve for an extended period has been met with controversy. Uefa’s technical director Zvonimir Boban resigned from his role in January, protesting against Ceferin’s presumed intention to stay on for another term. Boban called the move “beyond comprehension.”
The motion to change the rules also included other statute changes, such as the requirement to have at least two female members on the Uefa executive committee. However, representatives from the FA, Norway, and Iceland voted against the plan to bundle these changes together. The FA, although supportive of the other proposed statute changes, was forced to vote against them all once the motion was passed.
An FA spokesperson stated that they had requested and voted for the statute changes to be tabled separately but respected the decision made by the majority. The FA believes that a maximum period of three terms of four years should be the principle for any Uefa executive committee member to serve.
Ceferin’s decision not to seek re-election in 2027 marks the end of an era for Uefa. While some may question the rule changes and their impact on corporate governance, it is clear that Ceferin prioritizes spending more time with his family and believes in the importance of fresh leadership within the organization. As Uefa prepares for a new chapter, it remains to be seen who will step up to fill Ceferin’s shoes and shape the future of European football.