UEFA saw Euro 2024 as an excellent opportunity to promote ecology and demonstrate concern for the environment. Alexander Ceferin himself appealed to national federations to give up organizing their own national teams air transport and focused on buses and trams. Polish national team even if she was going to Berlin from Hannover by train. Other teams also followed UEFA's recommendations whenever possible.
Alexander Ceferin above his own law?
However, it seems that whoever these rules applied to, they applied to. The most important officials of the European federation, including Ceferin himself, were not among this group. The British daily “The Times” writes about how the UEFA president did not care about his own recommendations. The local journalists make very serious accusations against the Slovenian.
First of all, Ceferin and his people were to have access to a private Bombardier Challenger 64 jet during the Euro, which could accommodate 12 people on board. They used it very willingly. The president himself made as many as 16 flights from June 15 to July 9. Some to be able to watch in one day, e.g. matches Türkiye – Georgia in Dortmund and Germany – Hungary in Stuttgart (flight lasted 38 minutes). But different to get to… home in Ljubljana. He was there three times, once to give an interview in which he emphasized the importance of reducing the carbon footprint.
The British note that UEFA has had its own carbon footprint calculator since March this year, and recently published a report in which it reported that during Euro 2024, national associations implemented 75% less less air travel than during Euro 2016. In addition, as much as 90 percent all staff euro was to choose public transport in Germany instead of planes.
UEFA is already explaining itself
The Times also published an official statement from UEFA regarding the allegations. The federation claims that some of the flights in question were planned and fully taken into account in their plans to reduce their carbon footprint. They also denied that President Ceferin would fly between German cities.
– The private jet was used by UEFA only to travel to and from Ljubljana. For example, the trip from Düsseldorf to Dortmund was made by electric car, not by plane as your list suggests. Similarly to many other trips of UEFA representatives at that time, we read in the statement. Who's right? Let everyone judge for themselves.