By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – Europe’s top clubs have finally opened talks with FIFA aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over World Cup revenues and other club-versus-country issues.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter and European Club Association (ECA) boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge both led high-ranking delegations for the landmark meeting yesterday, described as “productive”, aimed at improving their notoriously troubled relationship.
Rummenigge has been increasingly outspoken in recent weeks about both FIFA’s unwillingness to deal with the clubs and Blatter personally for his handling of world football’s governing body.
The ECA are particularly irritated that they were not included as a body in FIFA’s plans to clean up the game under the so-called road map to reform.
The organisation also wants a more club-friendly football match calendar, scrapping international friendlies.
FIFA has already pledged to pay out $70 million (£45 million/€54 million) in compensation to clubs releasing players for the 2014 World Cup but it is not clear whether this covers a specific insurance deal for any players who get injured.
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