UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin will seek a fourth term as head of European football’s governing body, reversing his earlier decision not to stand for another election.
Ceferin informed the presidents of UEFA’s 55 member associations of his decision during a meeting in Berlin on Thursday. The 58-year-old Slovenian was first elected UEFA president in 2016 and has led the organisation through a period marked by disputes over European football’s relationship with FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino.
“I want to thank the national associations for their trust,” Ceferin said.
“We have faced extraordinary challenges over the past years, and we have faced them as one team. There is still important work ahead, and I have therefore accepted their request.”
Ceferin had previously said in February 2024 that he would not seek a fourth term. His position followed controversy over a change to UEFA’s statutes that would have allowed him to remain in office beyond the previous term limits. His decision to seek another term comes as UEFA’s relationship with FIFA has become increasingly strained.
UEFA has opposed Infantino’s proposed changes to FIFA’s commercial structure, including a plan to bring private investment into a company holding commercial rights to major FIFA competitions. The proposal was eventually abandoned after opposition from several football confederations and national associations.
Ceferin has ruled out personally challenging Infantino for the FIFA presidency. Instead, he has said he wants to help identify a candidate capable of uniting football stakeholders ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027. He said his objective remained to keep European football united, strengthen the game and prepare UEFA for the next generation.
