Aleksander Ceferin announces shock decision to quit as Uefa president less than an hour after winning vote to stay on

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin stunned European football when he announced he will QUIT his role in 2027 - less than an hour after winning a vote to stay on for an extra FOUR years.

In a bizarre turn of events, the Slovenian told a press conference of his intention BEFORE informing Uefa’s 55 member associations.

And it came after the FA was left isolated as the ONLY association to vote against giving Ceferin the right to stay in the role until 2031.

Wembley chief executive Mark Bullingham objected to the change in Uefa’s ruling Statutes which mean that Ceferin’s initial three year term after replacing Fifa-bound Gianni Infantino in 2016 will no longer count as having been served.

Yet shortly afterwards, Ceferin made a testy appearance in which he savaged former Croatia superstar Zvonimir Boban - who quit his Uefa role in protest at the proposed changes last month - and made his surprise announcement.

Ceferin said: “Honestly speaking, I'm tired of Covid, I'm tired of two wars and this nonsense project of the so-called Super League.

“I'm also tired of self-proclaimed moral authorities who are moral just until it comes to their personal interests.

“So I decided - let's say around six months ago - that I'm not planning to run in 2027 anymore.

“After some time, every organisation needs fresh blood.

“But it is  mainly because I have been away from my family for seven years now, and I will be away from them for three more until 2027. My family knew it first."

Ceferin added that he had told a select group of key advisors of his decision and swore them to secrecy.

That included Boban, who he labelled a “clown” and was a “test” of their loyalty.

Ceferin added: “I intentionally didn't want to disclose my thoughts for two reasons.

“Firstly, I wanted to see the real face of some people and I saw it; I saw good and bad parts.

“But I didn't want to influence the Congress.

“I wanted them to decide not knowing what I'm telling you today because that's an honest decision.

“It was actually amusing to watch all this hysteria around and at the same time getting all the messages of support from my federations."

Turning to Boban, whom he did not name, Ceferin spat: “Now just two sentences about the self proclaimed moral authority.

“This person does not deserve a comment from my side but people who know him and we will make their own opinions.

“And for his pathetic cry about morality. He was one of the rare persons that knew that I was not going to run in 2027.

“The moment that he got the information that I would disclose it after Congress he went out with his narcissistic letter.

“He could not wait because after my disclosure his whining would not make sense any more. Now think, whose personal aspirations are in question? And think, whose morality is in question?”

Ceferin then left after just three questions, with general secretary Theodor Theodoridis revealing he was heading back to the Uefa hotel across the city to inform the national association chiefs during their lunch break.

Ceferin’s unexpected move means the FA’s “principled” stance was not actually necessary.

Despite that, Wembely chiefs insisted they would still have votted the same way even if they had been aware of Ceferin’s real intentions.

An FA spokeswoman said: “It was always about the principle and didn’t only apply to Aleksander Ceferin.

“We were supportive of the statute changes proposed by UEFA, with the exception of the proposed new wording on term limits.

“We have recently implemented governance changes of our own and think it’s important that we are consistent in our approach.”