Berlin:UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has announced his intent to seek a fourth and final term in 2027, reversing a previous decision not to run for reelection.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ceferin made this announcement during a meeting in Berlin with the presidents and general secretaries of UEFA's 55 national associations. These associations had unanimously urged him to reconsider his earlier stance.

Ceferin, 58, will stand for reelection at the 51st UEFA Ordinary Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan, on April 22, 2027. He expressed gratitude to the national associations for their trust, acknowledging the extraordinary challenges faced by UEFA in recent years and emphasizing his commitment to continue strengthening European football.

The Slovenian, who has been at the helm of UEFA since 2016, had initially declared in February 2024 that he would not pursue another term, despite rule changes allowing him to do so. If reelected, Ceferin will remain in office until 2031.

The Berlin meeting also focused on FIFA's leadership, with UEFA and 54 of its 55 national associations, excluding Azerbaijan, agreeing on the need for a change at the top of world football's governing body. They expressed dissatisfaction with current FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stressing that reforms require new leadership committed to integrity and independence.

The associations' criticism stems from Infantino's abandoned proposal to seek private investment in managing FIFA's commercial rights. While Ceferin has ruled out running against Infantino in the FIFA presidential election in March 2027, UEFA announced that discussions on FIFA reform and leadership would continue, with another meeting scheduled before November 17.