<p>Zvonimir Boban, the now former chief of football at UEFA, has departed his role due to continued tensions within the organization. Boban was previously a dynamic midfielder for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/dinamo-zagreb-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Dinamo Zagreb</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/ac-milan-tv-schedule/">AC Milan</a>, and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/croatia-national-team-tv-schedule/">Croatia</a> national team. After retiring from the pitch, he completed a university degree and moved on to sports journalism.</p>



<p>However, Boban was eventually hired by FIFA to become their deputy secretary-general in 2016. The former soccer star played an instrumental part in introducing video technology to the sport. He was a key player in the implementation of VAR at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. This was the first tournament of its kind to feature the technology.</p>



<p>After stepping down from his position in 2019, Boban then went on to work behind the scenes at Milan. Nevertheless, a public rift between the former star and the club’s CEO Ivan Gazidis resulted in Boban’s departure from the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Serie A</a> side. He subsequently became UEFA’s first-ever chief of football in 2021. The governing body created the position solely for Boban.</p>



<h2>UEFA boss wants to bend term limit laws</h2>



<p>A key reason for Boban’s sudden departure from UEFA comes down to potential rule changes within the organization. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is to be in favor of bending term limit rules. Current stipulations, that Ceferin himself proposed, say that officials cannot remain in office for more than 12 years.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, Boban is under the impression that Ceferin wants to alter these laws to continue in the prestigious position. Ceferin previously assumed office in 2016, but wants to run for office again when his term is up in 2027.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240125_WST_485538_Boban-UEFA-term-limits-1200x670_fda633eb.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-485560" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Boban-UEFA-term-limits-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Boban-UEFA-term-limits-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Boban-UEFA-term-limits-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Boban-UEFA-term-limits.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>After making his decision, Boban issued a statement to Croatian newspaper <em>Telegram</em>. </p>



<p>“I talked to UEFA’s president about a problem that occurred during the last meeting of the executive committee in Hamburg – the proposal to change UEFA’s statute in order to enable Ceferin’s new candidacy after his final mandate runs out,” <a href="https://telesport.telegram.hr/na-prvu/otvoreno-pismo-zvonimira-bobana-napustam-uefa-u-ceferin-je-donio-pogubnu-odluku/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> Boban.</p>



<p>“After expressing my deepest concern and complete disagreement with the proposal itself, the president answered that he sees no legal or moral-ethical problem in it – and that he will, without any doubt, proceed with this idea that I find fatal.”</p>



<p>UEFA, however, denied Boban’s claims in an official statement on the issue. “The proposed change is to simply clarify the position established in the statutes with regard to preserving the accepted legal principle that retroactivity should not apply,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/25/world/europe/boban-uefa-ceferin.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">claimed</a> the organization.</p>



<p>Boban certainly has a history of voicing his opinions regarding his employers. Along with the aforementioned Milan issue, the exec also previously criticized FIFA after leaving in 2019. Boban disagreed with the governing body’s previous assertion to stage the World Cup every two years.</p>



<h2>Discontent at UEFA high as Zvonimir Boban departs</h2>



<p>News of the discontent between two top UEFA officials comes as the European Super League (ESL) threatens the organization’s power. The potential breakaway league attempted to form in 2021 to no avail. Nevertheless, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> remain committed to the division as an alternative to UEFA’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/europa-league-tv-schedule/">Europa League</a>.</p>



<p>A European court recently <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/explained-what-the-european-super-league-ruling-means-20231221-WST-478973.html">determined</a> that UEFA, and FIFA, abused their powers in trying to block the ESL from forming. The governing bodies also, according to the court, acted unlawfully by threatening sanctions against clubs joining the new league.</p>



<p>An ESL official has <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/european-super-league-says-20-teams-ready-to-join-division-20240123-WST-485041.html">since claimed</a> that 20 teams are ready to break away from the governing body to join their division. However, it is still unlikely that many of the top European teams will soon leave UEFA. Many soccer fans across the globe are not currently for the formation of the ESL.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>

Top UEFA official quits because of a new potential rule change

Zvonimir Boban, a now former high-ranking UEFA official, has departed his role due to continued tensions within the governing body.


<p>With UEFA finally taking a stand, the debate over whether added time should be so high at the end of each Champions League game continues.</p>



<p>In the last nine months, FIFA pressured officials at both the men’s and women’s World Cups. They want games to run well beyond 90 minutes. In some cases, this surpassed 100 minutes on the field during regular time. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-will-not-pay-womens-world-cup-players-directly-20230719-WST-444107.html">FIFA</a> requested all possible interruptions to the game, including replacements, injuries and other delays, go toward added time.</p>



<p>The president of the governing body, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/usa-club-world-cup-is-a-power-play-20230809-WST-448949.html">Gianni Infantino</a> has given his approval of these rules. Given that the ball was in play for just 50–55 minutes every game, he also stressed the significance of providing better value for money to supporters.</p>



<h2>Champions League reveals stance on added time rule</h2>



<p>The sport’s rules-making body, IFAB, agrees with these suggestions and hopes that local tournaments will eventually adopt FIFA’s policies. Nonetheless, UEFA will act contrary to the norm.</p>



<p>Director of UEFA, Zvonimir Boban, said as much. He cited concerns for player safety as the primary factor in the organization’s decision to diverge from FIFA’s lead.</p>



<p>On Wednesday, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA</a> argued that last season’s average “effective playing time” for games in its flagship Champions League was 60 minutes and 7 seconds. According to Boban, it was around five minutes longer than in Europe’s top leagues.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="&apos;IT&apos;S DAFT!&apos; 🤬 Steve Nicol agrees with Pep&apos;s criticism of new added time rules | ESPN FC" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ISAvAmpO0Rw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<h5>What did Zvonimir Boban say?</h5>



<p>“It’s absolutely absurd. Regarding player welfare, it’s some kind of small tragedy or big tragedy because we are adding almost 12, 13, 14 minutes, which are very tough minutes to play,” he told <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cc162fb4-4734-11ee-9d0e-4ae3949ef5dc?shareToken=eac08b5a00ab05c2c9694589528fa770" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Times</a>.</p>



<p>“I can speak from my experience, especially as a midfielder — when you get tired, it’s the last 30 minutes of the game. And then somebody comes and adds another 15, 12, 14 minutes of the game.</p>



<p>“How often we have spoken critically about the calendar and too many games? We are not listening to players and coaches. In England you know something even more than us because you have more games.</p>



<p>“And now we add to them, probably six, seven minutes more per game – over 65 games that is almost 500 minutes more per season. That is six games. It’s crazy. It’s too much so we will not do this. We will follow our guidelines.”</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Pictures</em></p>


Champions League makes decision on FIFA added time rule

The debate about added time at the conclusion of soccer games rages on, with the UEFA Champions League recently stating its position.

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European Super League

Top UEFA official quits because of a new potential rule change

FIFA

Champions League makes decision on FIFA added time rule