Croatia great Boban back in soccer politics as UEFA adviser

<p>GENEVA &mdash; Former Croatia and AC Milan great Zvonimir Boban is returning to top-level soccer politics as an adviser to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.</p>
<p>UEFA confirmed the hiring Friday of the one-time close aide to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Ceferin and Infantino have had often tense working relations since both were first elected in 2016. </p>
<p>Boban <a href="https://apnews.com/article/7ebef94d9e0a4dacbe03004cacc17203">left FIFA in June 2019</a> after three years as its deputy secretary general for soccer issues to return to Milan as the club’s “chief football officer.”</p>
<p>He left after less than a year, reportedly in the crossfire of internal politics at the American-owned club.</p>
<p>Boban joins UEFA at an intriguing time in its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-international-soccer-soccer-aleksander-ceferin-serie-a-d3ccd61d271c84df177c595a7f9fd565">relations with Europe’s most influential clubs</a>, including Milan, over running the Champions League.</p>
<p>At FIFA, he lobbied some of those same clubs to win support for an expanded Club World Cup, which UEFA viewed as a threat to the Champions League. A 24-team Club World Cup was set to launch in China this year but was postponed without new dates due to the pandemic.</p>
<p>UEFA also faces a diplomatic challenge to secure hosting rights to the 2030 World Cup for Europe. </p>
<p>FIFA wants to make the decision in 2024 with more than 200 member federations eligible to vote.</p>
<p>Ceferin wants UEFA to unite around a single candidate and a joint Spain-Portugal project currently looks favored. A British and Irish combined bid is also being considered.</p>
<p>China and a South American centenary bid including Uruguay, the original World Cup host in 1930, are potential opponents for Europe. </p>
<p>A stylish midfield player, Boban helped Croatia reach the 1998 World Cup semifinals and won a Champions League title with Milan in 1994. </p>
<p>UEFA is expected to unveil its new signing at the annual congress of 55 member federations on Tuesday in Montreux, Switzerland. Infantino is also scheduled to attend.</p>
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