Aleksander Čeferin

Aleksander Čeferin is a Slovenian lawyer and football administrator who has been serving as the President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since September 14, 2016. Born on October 13, 1967, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Čeferin studied law at the University of Ljubljana, where he later obtained his master’s degree.

Before his tenure as UEFA President, Čeferin was involved in various legal roles within football administration. He served as the President of the Football Association of Slovenia (NZS) from 2011 to 2016. During his time as NZS President, he implemented reforms aimed at improving the governance and infrastructure of Slovenian football.

As UEFA President, Čeferin has focused on various initiatives, including promoting fair play, transparency, and inclusivity within European football. He has also been actively involved in addressing issues such as financial fair play, competitive balance, and the development of grassroots football across Europe.

Under his leadership, UEFA has expanded its efforts to combat discrimination and promote diversity and inclusion in football. Additionally, Čeferin has played a key role in UEFA’s response to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, working to ensure the safe resumption of football activities while prioritizing the health and well-being of players, staff, and fans.

Čeferin’s presidency has been marked by his commitment to modernizing and strengthening UEFA’s governance structures, as well as his advocacy for the continued growth and prosperity of European football at all levels.

Protecting the game

Mr Čeferin’s commitment to sacrifice and solidarity has safeguarded European football from two of its gravest challenges: the global pandemic and the so-called European Super League.

• When COVID-19 brought the game to a halt in 2020, UEFA moved quickly to postpone EURO 2020so domestic leagues could complete their seasons in the summer. Development funds were advanced to associations to help them cope with the financial hit while financial fair play rules were adapted to offset impact of lost ticket sales and broadcast revenue on elite clubs.Mr Čeferin also championed European football’s return to play: first by overseeing approval of a strict medical and operational protocol, then ensuring 2019/20 UEFA club competitions were completed as a final eight, knockout tournament in less than a month. The President also recognised the important role of EURO 2020 in signalling that fans could safely return to the continent’s football stadiums.
• Twelve months later, Mr Čeferin united associations, leagues, clubs and fans as well as political institutions to successfully oppose the ill-fated Super League concept. UEFA actions reinforced the European sports model, whose values – in particular, qualification based on sporting merit – lie at the heart of our competitions. In November 2021, with UEFA support, both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (EU) approved resolutions endorsing the model.