Zvonimir Boban, the “head of football” at UEFA, has announced that he is leaving European football’s governing body in protest against President Oleksandr Ceferin’s plans to amend the statute to allow him to remain in office for another four years, Reuters writes.

Zvonimir Boban is no longer the “head of football” in UEFA, because

Former AC Milan midfielder and Croatia captain Boban announced his decision in an open letter published by Croatian website Telesport: “I am sorry and sad, but I am leaving UEFA.”

Boban added that the reason for his departure was Ceferin’s desire to change UEFA’s rules at the next Congress on February 8, which would allow the Slovenian to run for re-election after his current term expires in 2027.

Current UEFA rules prohibit the president and members of the Executive Committee from standing for more than three times or remaining in office for more than 12 years.

“Paradoxically, it was Ceferin who proposed and launched a reform package in 2017 that was supposed to protect UEFA and European football. His deviation from these values ​​and changes in the main reforms are difficult to understand, especially in this delicate period of football.

If I took such a difficult and wrong decision and turned my head, I would be going against the general principles and values ​​in which I deeply believe.

I do not play a hero and I know very well that many people hold the same opinion – perhaps naive, but definitely correct” – Zvonimir Boban.

Aleksandar Ceferin was re-elected UEFA president in April 2023.