After a vote at the governing body’s Congress in Athens, the Slovenian was named as the new leader, replacing Michel Platini
Aleksander Ceferin has been confirmed as the new president of UEFA after beating fellow candidate Michael van Praag in Wednesday’s election.
The head of the Slovenian Football Association was the overwhelming favourite to replace disgraced former president Michel Platini during the vote at UEFA’s Congress in Athens.
The Arsenal legend completed his Uefa A license via the Welsh FA this week, though it has led to fears of favouritism towards star names due to how quickly he passed
Thierry Henry‘s recent completion of the Uefa A licence has not pleased everyone, with the FA of Wales (FAW) being accused of bias in light of the Frenchman’s success.
The Arsenal great completed his A licence through the FAW earlier this month in less time than former Swansea and Cardiff City player Will Foley believes possible.
Foley said the FAW had a track record of pushing through “big names” quicker than other candidates, with the likes of Jens Lehmann, Marcel Desailly, Patrick Vieira, David Ginola and even Everton manager Roberto Martinez having completed their coaching badges under the guidance of FAW technical director Osian Roberts.
“There was no way humanly possible Thierry had even completed his Uefa B licence and could have finished all his assessments and tasks on the A licence when everyone else participating on the course has not even had the chance,” Foley told the Daily Mail.
“Where does it end with the Welsh FA? Are they not worried that someone somewhere will start asking to see proof that all these top names are completing what is required by Uefa to fully pass the courses?
“They are quite openly putting certain chosen names through the courses without completing the so-called allotted number of hours which all the candidates have to be seen to be doing. The big names get an easy ride while the others have to do it the hard way.”
The European football federation (UEFA) said it was “disappointed” in FIFA’s decision on Monday to ban Michel Platini for eight years over an ethics violation, expressing support for the Frenchman’s right to an appeal.
“Naturally, UEFA is extremely disappointed with this decision, which nevertheless is subject to appeal,” the governing body said of the ruling against Platini, who is UEFA’s president.
“UEFA supports Michel Platini’s right to a due process and the opportunity to clear his name,” the statement added.
FIFA’s ethics court suspended Platini, 60, over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euros) payment he received from Blatter in 2011, reportedly for consulting work done a decade earlier.
Blatter was also banned for eight years.
Both Blatter and Platini denied there was anything suspicious about the payment and that it had previously been agreed in an oral contract.
FIFA judges said they “rejected” evidence concerning such an oral contract as it was unconvincing.
Shortly after the verdict, Blatter told journalists that he will appeal against the ban, first to a FIFA committee and then to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
Platini has not commented on a possible appeal.
The Frenchman, once the heir apparent to replace Blatter as FIFA’s president, boycotted his hearing with FIFA judges on December 18, claiming their verdict was pre-determined.
He was, however, represented by his lawyers at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters, who said they had produced sufficient evidence to clear their client’s name.
Credit : Vanguard
