Slovenian Football Association boss Aleksander Ceferin has announced that he will run for the UEFA presidency.
Ceferin has been drumming up support for his bid in recent weeks and is now thought to be backed by 18 of the 55 member associations, including Russia, Italy and the Scandinavian countries.
The 48-year-old is looking to succeed Michel Platini as the chief of European football's governing body after the former president was banned from all football-related activity for a "disloyal payment" from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
"Getting support from [Russia] is very good and very encouraging, but I don't just want to speak for one region," Ceferin told reporters.
"So I was really pleased to hear that the Scandinavians and Italians have come out for me and I want to speak to the others too.
"I don't like it when it is North against South, or East versus West. I will speak to everybody."
Michael van Praag of Netherlands and Spain's Angel Maria Villar are also expected to enter the race, with candidates needing to formally announce their intention to run by July 20 ahead of the September 14 election.
Barney Corkhill
