Slovenian association chief to run for UEFA presidency

Ljubljana - Slovenian football association boss Aleksander Ceferin on Wednesday threw his hat into the ring to replace disgraced ex-UEFA president Michel Platini at the helm of European football's governing body.

"Ceferin decided to take the challenge and present his candidature to become the new president of the European football association," the Slovenia association (NZS) said in a statement, adding the decision was taken after receiving the support of 18 nations.

Last month, Dutch football chief Michel Van Praag became the first to announce his candidature while UEFA's senior vice president Angel Maria Villar of Spain is also rumoured to be a contender.

The deadline for submissions for the coveted UEFA post is July 20, with the election taking place in Athens on September 14.

Platini announced his resignation on May 9 after a sports tribunal rejected his final appeal against a four-year ban over a suspect two million Swiss francs ($2 million, €1.8 million) payment he received from world football's governing body FIFA.

Ceferin, 48, has received backing from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, as well as Italy, Russia, and a host of Balkan nations, according to NZS.