Čeferin: I came because of infrastructure, the Association will decide which stadium will be renovated

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - UEFA President Aleksandar Čeferin, together with the President of the BiH Association Elmedin Begić, held a press conference at Sarajevo Airport.

- We knew that the Football Association of BiH is doing well, that you have a promising team, but also that you have very poor infrastructure. That was the main topic of discussion. We are ready to help, but without the support of the state and the local community, there is nothing. They gave a guarantee that they are ready for cooperation. The Association will decide which stadium will be renovated, we know that most are on the verge of regularity - said Čeferin at the beginning of his address.

When asked how to fight against the glorification of war criminals in stadiums, Čeferin replied:

- You also have problems with fans, and that was a topic of discussion with the BiH Presidency. Fines are not the only element in the fight against this; young generations need to be raised in a different way.

Politics in sports, more precisely in associations?

- Anyone who has been convicted should not be in football. An interesting question, and we have not changed our stance on this. What does political interference in sports mean? It is undefined; across Europe we have members who are active politicians. Perhaps the stance will be clarified in the future. We have a problem if they interfere in specific decisions and if politics decides who will be in the national team and who will be the coach. That is political interference in practice.

Elvedin Begić once again emphasized that Čeferin's visit means a lot for our country:

- Čeferin's visit means a lot for Bosnia, and in some of our plans, the advancement of infrastructure in the coming period is included - said Elvedin Begić.

Čeferin also pointed out that he met with Ivica Osim yesterday, and that he had been planning a meeting with him for a long time.

- I met with Osim yesterday, but we didn't talk about football; we had dinner together. We have been planning a visit to BiH for a long time; I think this country needs a "wind at its back" to do something in the area of infrastructure. It is different when you come here and give personal support and a promise; the goal of this visit is precisely that - said the UEFA President at the end of the conversation.