Swiss football mourns former FA president Zloczower

Zloczower was elected to the role in February 2001, holding the post for eight-and-a-half years and overseeing Switzerland's successful co-hosting of UEFA EURO 2008 alongside neighbours Austria.

Other highlights of his tenure included victory at the 2002 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, as well as hosting the UEFA European Under-21 Championship the same year, and the 2006 UEFA European Women’s Under-19 Championship.

Zloczower, a lawyer from Bern, became president of BSC Young Boys in 1972, with other leadership roles including as a Bern city councillor, Colonel in the General Staff of the Swiss Army, president of the Swiss Curling Federation and secretary of the Bernese Cinema Association.

In 1982, he became a member of the Swiss National League’s Appeals Tribunal; in 1989, he was elected to the National League committee; and in 1995, he became president of the League, going on to sit on various UEFA committees.

"We are extremely grateful to Ralph Zloczower for having secured a voice and a reputation for Swiss football at both national and international level through his legal expertise, negotiating skills and an exceptional network of contacts. The fact that Switzerland was able to co-host the 2008 European Championship will forever be linked to him," said SFA president Peter Knäbel.