March 4 – Europe’s leading clubs are reported to have softened their anger over the decision in principle to switch the 2022 World Cup to winter following a meeting between the head of the European Club Association and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
Both Blatter and his general secretary Jerome Valcke have both ruled out new compensation to clubs for the disruption a November-December World Cup would cause and the European Club Association were due to discuss what action to take next at their board meeting in Switzerland yesterday.
No statement was put out following the session with the talks apparently of a confidential nature. But if any protest action was agreed, it would appear to have been superceded by ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s talks with Blatter.
“I have a different opinion” about the effect of a winter World Cup, Rummenigge told Associated Press after speaking with Blatter, without giving further details.
FIFA paid clubs worldwide $70 million from 2014 World Cup revenues in return for releasing players to the tournament. This commitment is expected to be renewed going forward.
FIFA’s executive committee meets on March 19 and 20 when it seems certain they will rubber-stamp the recommendation made by the 2022 FIFA Task Force to break with almost a century of tradition and play the tournament in winter.
What action the European leagues might now take is still to be decided but speaking for his own club members, Rummenigge added: “I am still positive and optimistic that there is the possibility to find a serious and fair solution” to any calendar disruption.
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