By Andrew Warshaw
July 15 – Intensive behind-the-scenes discussions are expected to take place this weekend as the July 20 deadline for UEFA presidential nominations to succeed Michel Platini approaches.
So far Dutch FA president Michael van Praag and Slovenian federation leader Aleksander Ceferin have confirmed they are running while veteran UEFA and FIFA vice-president Angel Maria Villar of Spain is almost certain to throw his hat into the ring as could one or two other unexpected nominees.
None of the candidates have so far given much away in terms of their manifestos but that will change following Wednesday’s deadline, after which they will have two months before the September 14 election in Athens to lobby for votes among UEFA’s 55 federations.
Ceferin claims to have the support of 18 nations including much of eastern Europe and Scandinavia but van Praag, who for a while was a FIFA presidential candidate to replace Sepp Blatter before pulling out, will start as favourite, with the victor finishing Platini’s term until 2019.
“UEFA needs continuity, stability, credibility and leadership. That’s what you can expect of me,” van Praag said when announcing his candidacy.
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