Controversial Proposed Uefa Rule Raises Alarm Over Potential Extension of Ceferin’s Presidency Until 2031

Proposed changes to Uefa statutes have triggered unrest within member associations, as the alterations could pave the way for Aleksander Ceferin’s prolonged tenure as Uefa president until 2031. The Slovenian official, in power since 2016, may benefit from the suggested modifications, raising concerns among federation heads about the potential 15-year duration of his presidency, which some argue contradicts principles of good governance.

These proposed changes coincide with heightened scrutiny of Uefa and Fifa’s governance structures, particularly after the European Court of Justice’s ruling on the European Super League in December. Questions are arising about the effectiveness of the executive presidential structure in governing the global game, emphasizing individual politicians’ considerable power.

Amid growing dissatisfaction within Uefa, there is increasing support for Razvan Burleanu, the Romanian chief, as a potential rival to Ceferin. Ceferin assumed office in 2016 following Michel Platini’s resignation and has faced criticism for the perceived failure to mediate effectively between smaller clubs and countries against the influence of super clubs, evident in the upcoming changes to the Champions League format.

The proposed amendments, outlined in a document titled “Amendments to the Uefa Statutes,” stipulate that no person may serve as president for more than three terms, including partial terms, starting after 1 July 2017. Notably, terms served or started before this date shall not be considered, potentially allowing Ceferin to run again in 2027 if the changes are approved at the Uefa Congress on 8 February in Paris.

The discontent within the confederation also stems from issues such as the failed attempt to reinstate Russian youth teams into European competition post the Ukraine invasion. Another noteworthy proposed change involves removing an age limit of 70 for Uefa ExCo members, fueling suspicions that it could benefit Ceferin ally Sandor Csanyi, who turns 71 in March.

Despite the growing opposition, Uefa has not provided any comments on the matter upon request.