FIFA is to go ahead with a 24-team Club World Cup starting in 2021, president Gianni Infantino said on Friday, setting the governing body in conflict with Europe’s top clubs.
FIFA made the decision at its council meeting on Friday, Infantino told a news conference.
The competition immediately faced a boycott from Europe’s leading clubs, which include the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Photo: AFP
The European Club Association (ECA), which represents 232 European clubs, including all the major teams, wrote a letter asking Infantino not to make a decision now and saying they would not take part in the 2021 tournament.
“ECA clubs will not participate in 2021 CWC [Club World Cup] and will assess participation in editions of the competition post-2024,” a spokesperson said.
UEFA later said it had a duty to protect the health of players and that its members of the FIFA Council had unanimously voted against the proposal.
“UEFA shares ECA’s view that the international match calendar in 2021 does not provide any realistic option to stage a 24-team Club World Cup and that it should furthermore not be played at a time when players should have a well-deserved rest period,” it said in a statement.
The tournament would be held instead of the Confederations Cup in June 2021, Infantino said, adding that no host nation has been decided.
“We went through a consultation process, spoke with everyone — some agree, others disagree, you have different views and positions,” Infantino said. “I am feeling very positive from the discussions and I am sure that at the end we will be very happy.”
“I understand the situation in Europe with stakeholders, the leagues, the clubs, small clubs, big clubs, the players’ union — it’s more complex than other countries in the world,” he added. “In football we are not waging war against each other. I am confident we can have a good and fruitful cooperation.”
Infantino also said that he believes a 48-team World Cup in 2022 in Qatar is “feasible,” adding that FIFA would continue to study the options.
“If it happens — fantastic. If it doesn’t happen — fantastic also,” he said.
No decision would be made on expanding that tournament, with possible additional host nations, until June, Infantino said.
The FIFA Council also decided to use video review technology at the Women’s World Cup in France in June.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was