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UEFA elects surprise candidate Aleksander Ceferin as new leader

Newly elected UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin arrives for a news conference following his election in Athens, Greece September 14, 2016. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

UEFA on Wednesday overwhelmingly elected Slovenian lawyer Aleksander Ceferin, almost unknown three months ago, as its new president to lead the world's most powerful football confederation into a new era after Michel Platini was forced to resign.

Ceferin, 48, beat Dutch football association chief Michael van Praag by 42 votes to 13 in the first round of voting after promising "bold" moves and an end to "intrigues" as the 55-member European body faces challenges over its flagship Champions League.

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