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UEFA presidency candidate says union needs reforms as FIFA

UEFA needs many changes, says presidency candidate, the election is set for September 14

© EPA/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

MOSCOW, June 8. /TASS/. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) also should carry out reforms as the International Association of Football Federations (FIFA), Aleksander Ceferin, the head of the Football Association of Slovenia, who runs for the post of the UEFA president, told TASS on Wednesday.

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"UEFA needs some reforms as FIFA. UEFA is a good organization, we cannot say that UEFA is not a good organization and that it needs a complete change," Ceferin said. "But it needs many changes and I will tell more in the future. I have prepared some things but I think I have to speak to all the shareholders and adjust everything."

He said he is planning to work closely with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

"I trust Gianni Infantino and his team and I know that he didn’t have much time to change things. He still has time, he’s there for a few months and I trust him completely and I think that UEFA should work closely with FIFA," Ceferin said.

"I know him [Infantino] very well and I am sure that we can cooperate great if I succeed. We still have elections, I will speak to every football association in Europe because I try to get support from as many as possible," he added.

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Russia's role in UEFA

Russia should be more involved in the work of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Aleksander Ceferin, the head of the Football Association of Slovenia, who runs for the post of the UEFA president, told TASS on Wednesday.

"The important thing is that Russia as the biggest country in Europe didn’t have enough impact in UEFA," he said. "Russia should be more included in UEFA as the biggest country, as a very great economy. I am sure that Russia will help a lot."

Russian Sports Minister and Football Union President Vitaly Mutko said earlier on Wednesday that Moscow supports Ceferin’s candidacy for the post of the UEFA president.

Europe’s governing body of football will be electing its new president on September 14 in Athens and all candidates wishing to run for the presidency have to submit their applications by July 20.

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