Slovenia's Ceferin wants to become 'Robin Hood' of UEFA

By Bakir Tiro

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AA) - Slovenian Football Association President Aleksander Ceferin, one of three candidates for the presidency of European football's governing body UEFA , says he will become the "Robin Hood" of the federation.

The 48-year-old lawyer Ceferin had formally announced last June that he would run for the UEFA presidential race to succeed Michel Platini, who stepped down last May after being banned over ethics breaches.

In an interview to Anadolu Agency, he detailed the purpose of his candidacy.

He said that he did not want only to become president of the large-scale football clubs but also be president of the smaller-sized clubs.

"I will become the Robin Hood of the UEFA presidential seat," Ceferin said.

"I have a lot of ideas. One day is not enough to talk about them. But one of the most important ones is that the UEFA presidency term should be shortened."

UEFA does not need a revolution but an evolution, Ceferin claimed.

He said Platini had managed to do good things for the federation during his term but Ceferin was adamant about restoring UEFA’s reputation, tarnished by the latest scandals involving the former president.

"What happened [corruption scandals] in UEFA was exaggerated in media. The federation is not such a place where everybody is in trouble.

"UEFA is a well-functioning organization," Ceferin added.

Last year, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Platini were suspended for eight years from football-related activities following an investigation which found they had abused their positions. They were suspended over a $2 million “disloyal payment” to Platini in 2011.

In February, FIFA’s appeal committee rejected Blatter and Platini’s bids to have their eight-year bans from the sport quashed. However, their suspensions were reduced to six years.

The candidate also said he will also fight against betting mafias, seen as the scourge of the sports world, namely with regards to match fixing.

"Match fixing is a cruel disease of the soccer world. Separate units should be founded in UEFA. There is a deteriorating situation in Europe and it should be averted," he said.

- 'UEFA needs changes'

Ceferin, who has led his country's football association for five years, is shown as one of the favorites to succeed Platini. He is up against the Netherlands’ Michael van Praag and Angel Maria Villar of Spain, the current acting president.

The 55 UEFA members will elect the new president at an extraordinary UEFA congress on Sept. 14 in the Greek capital Athens. The winner will complete Platini's presidential term, which ends in 2019.

Ceferin added: "The difference between me and the other two candidates is that I am ready to implement new reforms in football. UEFA and FIFA need changes and new ideas."

Ceferin has so far received pledges of support from the federations of Turkey, France, Italy, Russia and Ireland.