UEFA presidential candidates approved by FIFA

Paris (AFP) – The three candidates for the UEFA presidency, Aleksander Ceferin, Michael van Praag and Angel Maria Villar Llona, have all successfully passed FIFA eligibility checks, European football’s governing body confirmed on Friday.

FIFA carried out the checks because whoever replaces Michel Platini at the head of UEFA will automatically become a vice-president of world football’s governing body.

The election will be held at the UEFA Congress in Athens on Wednesday, September 14.

Ceferin, of Slovenia, Dutchman Van Praag and Spaniard Villar are all bidding to succeed Platini after the Frenchman, in the post since 2007, was banned from all football-related activities by FIFA for four years for ethics violations.

Each one of UEFA’s 55 member nations has one vote in the election.

Evelina Christillin, who is running for a female position on the FIFA Council, also complied with the eligibility requirements, UEFA said.