The governing bodies of European and South American football have tightened their ties in preparation for fighting Fifa’s plans for a biennial World Cup.
Despite previously requesting the idea to be explored, the South American football confederation, Conmebol, has joined Uefa in strongly opposing Fifa’s plans to stage the competition every two years, rather than four.
The idea, being driven by Fifa’s chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger, has gained support from the African Football Confederation (CAF) and some countries in Asia, but Uefa has made no secret of its objection to the proposals.
Wenger, the former Arsenal manager, has paid visits to international managers, including England’s Gareth Southgate, to discuss the plans. Wenger is convinced a World Cup every two years with a remodelled qualification system can reduce the number of games for nations and improve their quality. Southgate said last month he was not against the idea, but that it required more work.
Fifa, however, has been slow to inform many of the continental governing bodies of its plans, which form the next phase of developments.
Uefa and Conmebol announced on Tuesday they would stage a game next year between Italy and Argentina, the winners of the European Championship and the Copa America respectively.
Notably, they will also open a joint office in London “which will be in charge of coordinating projects of common interest”, a Uefa statement said, suggesting they will work closely to formulate a plan to have the new World Cup idea thrown out.
Critics of the proposals have complained that an increased World Cup will dilute football’s flagship tournament and questioned how yet another competition can be added to an already complicated calendar without putting an unfair and dangerous burden on players.
Yet, equally, Fifa gained enough support for the idea, first put forward by Saudi Arabia, from its confederations who voted in May for a feasibility study to be conducted.
A Uefa statement said that “the Uefa Executive Committee and the Conmebol Council also expressed a strong willingness to continue collaborating on other issues of mutual interest going forward.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3ukL3fM
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