Aleksander Ceferin was re-elected president of the European football governing body UEFA unopposed during Wednesday’s Ordinary Congress in Lisbon.

The Slovenian has been re-elected for a four-year term until 2027.

Mr Ceferin was elected UEFA’s seventh president in 2016 to replace Michel Platini.

The Frenchman had been banned from the football administration in 2015 for ethics violations and forced to quit UEFA in 2016 after losing his appeal against his ban.

The 55-year-old Ceferin faced his biggest challenge in April 2021 when some of Europe’s top clubs attempted to form a European Super League.

The competition was a direct threat to UEFA’s continental club competition, the Champions League, and Ceferin called on fans, football federations and governments to oppose the “disgraceful, self-serving proposal”.

In his address before re-election, Ceferin said, “There have been temptations, and even attempts, to create new models, but they conflict with the European model that we know so well and cherish so dearly.

“Our model is based on sporting merit. Where we come from, merit doesn’t have a price. Merit can’t be claimed. It can’t be acquired.

“It can only be earned. Season by season. On and off the pitch. There’s no room for cartels on this continent.”

Mr Ceferin also highlighted the need to clamp down on the abuse of players.

“Football is an inclusive sport, open to everyone,” he said. “Unfortunately, some people have still not grasped this concept, which is why we’re going to have to rethink our approach.

“We need to target offenders more effectively when a player is subjected to racist, homophobic or sexist insults during UEFA competitions. We’re here to protect the players.”

Mr Ceferin, a lawyer, was first re-elected unopposed for a four-year term in 2019.

(Reuters/NAN)