Ceferin re-elected as UEFA president again; Norwegian former soccer star not on board

• Arjan Dijksma

  Follows UEFA on behalf of NOS Sport

• Guido van Gorp

  Follows UEFA on behalf of NOS Sport

Aleksander Ceferin has been re-elected president of European soccer federation UEFA for the second time. In 2016, Ceferin surprised by beating Michael van Praag as the great unknown in the battle for the top position.

“My congratulations on Aleksander Ceferin going into this election without an opponent,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino when speaking at the Lisbon Congress Hall. The Swiss was also recently re-elected for the second time. Infantino also had no opponent.

Delegates in Lisbon do not have to vote. The presidential election goes by acclamation, with applause sufficient. Ceferin receives a standing ovation from the delegates.

FIFA and UEFA are embroiled in a battle over the playing calendar of international soccer, with billions at stake. Nevertheless, Infantino opts for conciliatory words.

“In making a playing calendar, we are bound together.” His speech is followed by an embrace between Infantino and Ceferin and a striking “photo moment” in which they are handed a soccer ball.

UEFA President Ceferin is then much fiercer in his speech: “FIFA says with its slogan that they are making soccer truly global. A nice slogan, but believe me: European soccer already is, and although we are reaping the benefits of that, we are also paying a price for it.”

“Football is an inclusive sport, open to all,” Ceferin argues for more diversity.

The next question is whether the congress will follow that up in the election for board seats. For the first time, a woman, Norwegian former soccer star Lise Klaveness, takes on men in this.

After a long vote, it appears that Klaveness is supported by only 18 of the 55 unions. She finishes second-to-last out of 11 candidates vying for seven board seats. Klaveness receives encouraging pats on the back from her colleagues in the Norwegian union after the defeat.

In Lisbon, UEFA does delegate a woman to the FIFA board for the first time. Debbie Hewitt wins the election for the spot reserved for the British federations. In the process, the English federation president defeats her Northern Irish opponent David Martin.

Ceferin also calls for tougher action against racism in soccer. “Together with unions and clubs, we need to deal more effectively with offenders when players face racism, homophobia and sexism during matches.”

The former lawyer refers to a criminal justice approach: “Maybe it’s time to put some people in court.”