Europe's top clubs warn FIFA over match schedule

By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva

February 8 – Europe’s leading clubs today warned FIFA to stop dictating to them – or face the consequences.

In a new and emotive club-versus-country spat, the clubs said they were running out patience with having no say in key decision-making processes especially when they pay the players’ salaries.

“I would not say we are at war, the clubs are very patient but we have our limits,” said Barcelona President Sandro Rosell.

He was backed by a raft of other leading club officials, all of them representing the European Club Association (ECA) whose anger over the existing match schedule dominated its general assembly here.

The current crisis has been sparked by FIFA adding additional international fixtures to the calendar – including Wednesday’s programme of friendlies all over Europe – without apparently consulting the clubs.

“We are not prepared to accept this,” said ECA general secretary Michele Centerano.

“The calendar is the heart and core of the whole business.”

AC Milan director Umberto Gandini, the ECA’s vice-chairman, said the current schedule suited no-one, not even national managers who, he said, simply had no time to prepare their teams properly.

“Tell me which national team manager or club manager is happy there is an international friendly tomorrow?” he told a news conference.

“All of a sudden we discover they [FIFA] can modify the calendar any time they like.

“If you are not heard, you have to scream for attention.”

The ECA, representing 197 clubs across the Continent, also underlined its opposition to playing the Qatar 2022 World Cup during the winter even though summer temperatures could reach 50 degrees in the searing desert heat.

A winter World Cup would mean a complete revamping of the European season and in a clear dig at FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s constant public pronouncements, ECA general secretary Michele Centenaro said all clubs were opposed to “the disruption of the traditional domestic football season”.

He was supported by Manchester United chief executive David Gill who was clearly aggrieved that no proper discussions had been held with the clubs.

Gill hinted that Blatter’s comments had hindered rather than helped the situation.

“It has not been dealt with correctly,” said Gill.

“There has been concern obviously in the way it has manifested itself.

“That is not just our view, it’s the view of more than 100 clubs individually and collectively.

“This is a major thing that will have ramifications for club football for three years.

“For it to happen in that way was somewhat surprising.

“This is an issue that has not been dealt with correctly.”

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