Zvonimir Boban quits Uefa over proposed Aleksander Ceferin rule change
- Published
Boban (right) says he has no option to leave Uefa because of a rule change which could allow Ceferin (left) to stay on as president
Uefa's technical director Zvonimir Boban has quit in protest at Aleksander Ceferin's intention to stay on for a further term as president.
Ceferin was elected in 2016, replacing Michel Platini, and one of the reforms he put in place was a three-term limit for all executive appointments.
However, he is trying to change the rule to remain in power until 2031.
Former Croatia midfielder Boban called the move "beyond comprehension".
When Ceferin was elected, he campaigned on a reform ticket and insisted no president should serve more than three terms in office.
He is due to step down in 2027 but the Slovenian's supporters are working on a plan to amend the three-term limit rule.
If successful, Ceferin, who was unopposed when he was re-elected last year, could stand again in 2027.
The amendment, which his supporters want as Ceferin took over part-way through Platini's four-year term in office, would mean any appointment before 2017 would not be counted as part of the allowable three terms.
Uefa executive committee member and former Manchester United chief executive David Gill spoke out against the move at a recent executive committee meeting, with his argument being that it looks bad for Uefa.
However, it appears it will be ratified at next month's congress in Paris.
Boban, who chaired Uefa's new Football Board which comprised of an array of star names, including Jose Mourinho, Carlos Ancelotti and Gareth Southgate, and was intended to bring an independent voice to some of the game's biggest issues, believes this is unacceptable.
"Despite having expressed my deepest concern and total disapproval, the Uefa president does not consider there to be any legal issues with the proposed changes, let alone any moral or ethical ones, and he intends to move forward regardless in pursuit of his personal aspirations," he said.
"Ironically, it was the Uefa president himself that proposed and launched a set of reforms in 2017 which were introduced to prevent such a possibility.
"These rules were designed to protect Uefa and European football from the 'bad governance' which for years had unfortunately been the 'modus operandi' of what is often referred to as the 'old system' of football governance.
"The reforms were to football's great credit, and that of the Uefa president. His shift away from these values is beyond comprehension.
"I fully appreciate that nothing is ideal, let alone myself, and at times compromises may be necessary. However, being party to this would go against all the principles and values I wholeheartedly believe in and stand for.
"I am not trying to be some sort of hero, especially as I am not alone in my thinking here.
"During the past three years, my relationship and collaboration with the Uefa president, and all my colleagues at Uefa, has been excellent. I am thankful for this, and I wish them all the best. It is with sorrow, and a heavy heart, I have no option but to leave Uefa."