April 3 – Former Ukraine star Andriy Shevchenko (pictured) has failed in his bid to get a seat on the UEFA Executive Committee (Exco), garnering just 15 votes.
Spain’s Rafael Louzán and Israel’s Moshe Zuares defeated the Ukrainian Football Association president in a vote for two seats with a two-year mandate on UEFA’s highest decision-making body.
On the eve of the election, a letter had circulated discrediting Shevchenko, who last year voted against plans to extend presidential term limits beyond 12 years. However, in the end, he fell well short of gaining a majority of votes, while Louzán received 32 and Zuares 31.
Zuares, who became Israel FA president in 2019 and was re-elected in 2022, campaigned across Europe, visiting almost every member association.
He has also engaged with the Israeli government and military officials, particularly in response to the Palestinian campaign for FIFA sanctions against Israel, and has reportedly visited hospitals and IDF bases to show support and solidarity for Israel’s military.
UEFA has not banned Israel from the game following the war in Gaza, with general secretary Theodore Theodoridis explaining last year that the conflict was different from the war in Ukraine.
With absolute majorities, Frank Pauw (Netherlands), Marijan Kustić (Croatia), Ari Lahti (Finland), Aivar Pohlak (Estonia) and Armen Melikbekyan (Armenia) won seats on the Exco for four-year terms. Paauw proved to be the most popular with 49 votes.
Gabriele Gravina (Italy) and Hans-Joachim Watzke (Germany) retained their seats with 48 votes.
Russia will no longer have a seat on the committee after Alexander Dyukov decided to not stand for re-election. Karl-Erik Nilsson, David Gill, Zbigniew Boniek, Servet Yardimci and Just Spee also leave the committee.
After the disappointment of a failed election campaign at the 2023 Congress, when she ran for a regular seat, Norwegian Football Association president Lise Klaveness won a quota seat unopposed, being elected by acclamation.
She has held strong views on football governance but will face a new reality serving on the Exco. She is the second Norwegian woman to serve on the body after Karen Espelund.
Răzvan Burleanu (Romania), George Koumas (Cyprus), Bernd Neuendorf (Germany) and Dejan Savićević (Montenegro) retained their seats as European representatives of the FIFA Council unopposed. Belgium’s Pascale Van Damme replaces Italy’s Evelina Christillin as the female member.
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