By Matt Scott
October 28 – The FIFA World Cup would be expanded to a 40-team tournament under a proposal aired by Michel Platini today. UEFA’s president has responded to a plan discussed by Sepp Blatter, his FIFA counterpart, to cull the number of European teams competing at the tournament finals.
Blatter wants more Asian and African countries in the tournament, and would have Europeans make way. Currently UEFA provides 13 of the 32 competing teams but Platini believes there is room for more participants from every confederation.
He told The Times of London [http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/international/article3906279.ece]: “I totally agree with Mr Blatter that we need more African and Asian [countries]. But instead of taking away some European, we have to go to 40 teams in the World Cup.
“We can add two African, two Asiatic, two American, one Oceania and one from Europe. I support this idea totally.”
Whether the idea receives the support of the clubs who would provide the players to enlarge the World Cup tournament is for now unclear as there have been no discussions with clubs on the matter.
UEFA’s Professional Football Strategy Council, the senior body comprising representatives of clubs, leagues, player unions and the confederation itself, has not yet been consulted.
Moreover, the European Clubs Association whose members broadly make up the Europa and Champions League participants, told Insideworldfootball.com it had never before heard of Platini’s idea.
“We learned of it today,” said a source. “It has not been addressed at PFSC level and hence was never discussed by the ECA.”
The European Professional Football Leagues body was not immediately available for comment. Yet despite the lack of discussions with other stakeholders, Platini’s thoughts appear well developed.
He added: “Football is changing and now we have 209 associations. There are more countries so why reduce? Forty is not so bad. You have three days more of competition and you make more people happy.
“It’s not based on the quality of the teams because you don’t have the best 32 at the World Cup. But it’s a good compromise.”
Platini, a FIFA vice-president, did give a hint as to his thoughts as to why Blatter had proposed the European cull, adding: “It’s a political matter so why not have more Africans? The competition is to bring all the people of all the world.
“If you don’t give the possibility to participate, they don’t improve. We accept one more for Europe and give seven to the others.”