Status: 05.04.2023 3:40 p.m
As expected, Aleksander Ceferin has been re-elected President of the European Football Union. DFL Supervisory Board Chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke moves to the UEFA Executive Committee. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf elected to the FIFA Council.
The 55-year-old Slovene Aleksander Ceferin was confirmed in office with applause at the UEFA Congress on Wednesday (March 5, 2023) in Lisbon. Ceferin has led the continental federation since September 2016 and did not have to face any competition when he was re-elected for the first time in 2019.
Ceferin: “I’ll do my best”
Ceferin took over the post seven years ago, succeeding Michel Platini, who was suspended at the time. As head of UEFA, Ceferin is also vice-president of the world association FIFA. The German Football Association (DFB) had already assured the Slovene of its support in advance.
“It really means a lot to me,” Ceferin said. “It’s a great honor, but above all a great, great responsibility.” He will do his best not to “disappoint” the UEFA delegates and football.
Watzke completes Koch’s term of office
DFL supervisory board chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke has moved into the executive committee of the European Football Union. As expected, the 63-year-old was appointed to the decision-making body of the continental federation with no opponents.
Watzke completes the last two years of Rainer Koch’s term of office, who had resigned from the post in consultation with the German Football Association. Then came the election of Bernd Neuendorf to the council of the world governing body FIFA, and the DFB president also had no opponents.
Alongside Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Watzke is the second German official on the UEFA Executive Committee. The former CEO of FC Bayern sits on the committee as a representative of the European Club Association ECA. Watzke, who is also CEO of Borussia Dortmund, had announced that he would give up his seat on the ECA board in a UEFA election.
Neuendorf moves up for Peters
DFB boss Bernd Neuendorf has been elected to the Council of World Association FIFA by the European national associations. The 61-year-old succeeds Peter Peters for a two-year term, who made his post available after the lost presidential election at the German Football Association (DFB). There was no opposing candidate for Neuendorf. The election was therefore by acclamation.
Sandor Csanyi (Hungary) prevailed against Ari Lahti (Finland) in the election for the European Vice-President in the Council. Debbie Hewitt (England) was given the special place of vice-president of British associations in a duel with incumbent David Martin (Northern Ireland), the first time a woman defeated a man in UEFA elections. Portuguese Fernando Gomes was unopposed for a four-year permanent seat on the Council.
Source: sportschau.de