Geneva, October 22 (BNA) Europe’s major soccer leagues warned that the biennial soccer World Cup plan is still on the table and pledged on Friday to resist proposed amendments to the international match schedule.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino pledged on Wednesday to seek global consensus during a longer period of consultations on the future of the World Cup. The Associated Press (AP) reported that this was seen as an acknowledgment of the strength of European opposition to a doubling of the pace for the World Cup.
The group of European leagues made up of 33 countries was later briefed by FIFA officials, including Arsene Wenger, who drafted the proposal to include two World Cups and fewer, but longer, periods in domestic seasons to play national team matches.
FIFA decided this week not to push for a December vote on its 211 member associations and instead host online talks on December 20 at what it called a “global summit”.
“We have also understood very clearly (Thursday) that this does not mean that the FIFA proposal is not on the table,” European Championships general director Jaco Swart said on Friday.
“We have no other alternative than to strongly reject FIFA’s proposals,” said Swart, the former Eredivisie official.
The tournaments noted the risk of a “sharp shift in sporting and economic value from domestic to international competitions”.
It is estimated that playing the World Cup every two years would add about $3 billion to FIFA’s currently $6 billion revenue in a four-year commercial cycle with one men’s edition.
The FIFA proposal also calls for biennial continental tournaments such as the European Championship and the Copa South American to guarantee major men’s events in June each year.
FIFA believes that this is necessary to attract and retain young fans and promote the development of football globally.
“FIFA’s proposals are harmful to domestic competitions, clubs, players and all fans,” Swart said, echoing the views of UEFA and fan groups.
“Football as a whole does not accept these proposals,” he said after a two-day meeting of members of the European leagues in Milan.
Leagues prefer to keep the current system of pauses for one week four times each season to make way for national team matches. FIFA wants fewer breaks with less travel for players, and one option calls for one long break in October.
Infantino said that this week FIFA is preparing a feasibility study that includes the economic impacts of the biennial tournaments before the December meeting of its members.
In a hostile online meeting on Tuesday with members of UEFA, some Infantino said they could resign from FIFA if the biennial World Cup is approved. The European Football Association (UEFA) and South America CONMEBOL also proposed a boycott of future World Cup finals.
Europe and South America combine to get 65 of the 211 FIFA votes and will likely need help from other regions as there is more support for Infantino and a chance to qualify for more World Cup finals.
FIFA has found support from many retired players, including World Cup winners, although active players and national team coaches have widely rejected the plan.
The IOC disputed FIFA’s claim that the men’s World Cup every two years would stress women’s football and other sports, straining the physical and mental health of supporters.
NS