By Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin was elected on Wednesday as the new president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) during its Extraordinary Congress hosted in Athens.
Ceferin got 42 votes to 13 for Dutch Michael van Praag of the 55 representatives of member associations, according to an official UEFA announcement.
"Thank you for the great support. It is an honor and responsibility. It means so much to me. My family and Slovenia are proud. I hope one day you will also be proud," Ceferin said according to Greek national news agency AMNA.
The Slovenian lawyer who was elected as UEFA's seventh chief since its establishment in 1954, has served since 2011 as President of Slovenia's Football Federation.
He takes over until 2019, succeeding French football legend Michel Platini who was forced to resign over an improper payment.
Platini had taken the helm in 2007 and earlier this year was suspended from all football activities for four years by FIFA.
"Be assured I have a clear conscience," Platini said addressing Wednesday's gathering stressing that he will continue the legal battle to prove his innocence.
