UEFA Chief of Football Zvonimir Boban resigns after Ceferin row

Zvonimir Boban, UEFA’s Chief of Football, has announced his departure from the European soccer governing body in protest against its president Aleksandar Ceferin. Boban expressed his disagreement with Ceferin’s backing of proposed changes in statutes that would enable him to extend his term in office. The former AC Milan midfielder and captain of Croatia conveyed his decision through an open letter published on the Croatian website Telesport.

In the letter, Boban expressed sorrow and sadness, stating, “I’m sorry and I’m sad, but I’m leaving UEFA.” He clarified that his departure stemmed from Ceferin’s support for a proposal to amend UEFA’s rules during the upcoming Congress on February 8 in Paris. This proposal aims to allow Ceferin to seek re-election when his current four-year term concludes in 2027. Presently, UEFA’s regulations restrict the president and Executive Committee members from running for office more than three times or remaining in their positions for over 12 years.

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Boban highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that Ceferin had initiated reforms in 2017 to safeguard UEFA and European football. However, the proposed changes to these reforms, as endorsed by Ceferin, were deemed difficult to comprehend, especially during a critical period for football. Boban emphasized his refusal to support such a decision, stating, “If I were to accept such a difficult and wrong decision and turn my head, I would be going against the principles and general values in which I deeply believe.”

He concluded by acknowledging that he wasn’t seeking heroism, acknowledging that many share the same opinion, which he considered perhaps naive but undoubtedly correct. Ceferin, who was re-elected as UEFA president without opposition in Lisbon’s Ordinary Congress in April of the previous year, now faces the departure of Boban due to these contentious proposed changes.