The president of UEFA, the Slovenian Alexander Ceferin, appealed to the unity of football in defense of a model based on solidarity, against "those who want to divide by talking about the free market to continue growing in their ego, in their power and money ". Additionally, he announced that he will not run for re-election when he ends his current term in 2027.
Ceferin expressed himself like this in his first intervention at the 48th Ordinary Congress that UEFA is holding this Thursday in Paris, in which he assured that the Super League "is like Snow White's apple" and recalled that the organization is celebrating its 70th birthday this year, time in which "he has helped build" that European model, with values, solidarity, promotions and relegations.
"We need European unity because we don't have it. European football represents one of the symbols of Europe. Unity is the only thing that can save us, even in football. There are those who are trying to trample, individuals who want to divide us by talking about free market to continue growing in their ego, in their power and money. Not everyone can buy football," he said.
Ceferin was very critical of the Super League and its promoters, who "want to earn more money, power, prestige and want to be superior," and spoke of the possibilities that the renewed Champions League will open starting last season, with more parties, more equality and more money.
"70 years of history, tradition, passion, unity, courage and creativity cannot be left aside, especially when the most exciting chapters are yet to be written. Football is counting on you," he told the congressmen, before having a special recognition for the German Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who today leaves his position on the Executive Committee as a representative of the European Club Association (ECA). "You love football and football loves you."
The Slovenian also announced that he will not run for re-election when his current term ends in 2027, despite the fact that the organization's Congress approved a statutory modification this Thursday that would allow him to do so.
Ceferin confirmed his decision in a press conference after the Congress held this Thursday in Paris, in which he said that he had decided about six months ago and that he had communicated it to his family and some friends.
The current UEFA president was elected for the first time on September 14, 2016, to succeed Michel Platini in a vote in which he beat the then president of the Dutch Federation, Michael van Praag, at the Congress in Rome. He was then re-elected on February 7, 2019 and April 5, 2023, both times as the sole candidate.
