UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has announced he will seek a final four-year term in office. The Slovenian made the decision after receiving a unanimous request from Europe's 55 national football associations to reconsider his previous plan to step down in 2027.
Čeferin confirmed his candidacy during a meeting of association leaders in Berlin. The election will take place at the UEFA Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 22 April 2027. If re-elected, his term would run until 2031.
A change of heart
"I want to thank the national associations for their trust," Čeferin told delegates. "We have faced extraordinary challenges over the past years, and we have faced them as one team."
He added that his ambition was to "keep European football united, make our game stronger and leave UEFA ready for the next generation." The 58-year-old was first elected in 2016.
Focus on FIFA reform
The Berlin meeting also focused on challenging the leadership of FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino. UEFA and its member associations stated they have lost confidence in the current FIFA leadership and are demanding fundamental governance reform.
They endorsed a set of proposals, including a call for a president who "leads, not manages" and for stronger separation of powers within world football's governing body. Discussions on identifying an alternative candidate to challenge Infantino are ongoing, with a deadline for submissions in November.
Bristol City, currently ninth in the Championship, are next in action away to Charlton on Saturday.
Background and full detail: Flashscore.com
