UEFA threatens a European boycott of World Cup if it takes place every 2 years

Aleksander Ceferin the president of UEFA has threatened FIFA with a European boycott of the World Cup if the competition moves to a two-year cycle.

In May, the FIFA Congress agreed to a feasibility study into the calendar change, after it was requested by the Saudi Arabian football federation.

Former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, now FIFA’s head of global football development, has developed the idea has begun consulting former players and coaches.

In his proposal, international qualification matches would be consolidated into one or two windows and there would be a tournament at the end of each season, with the World Cup taking place every two years.

Wenger briefed journalists today and he insisted that there would be no more matches than in the current international calendar, players would be guaranteed 25 days rest before the start of a new season, there would be less disruption of domestic football and fans would have the opportunity watch higher quality international games.

But Ceferin was doing a briefing of his own and dramatically raised the stakes, by questioning European and South American participation in the competition if the reforms go ahead.

“We can decide not to play in it,’ Ceferin told The Times. ‘As far as I know, the South Americans are on the same page. So good luck with a World Cup like that. I think it will never happen as it is so much against the basic principles of football.

“To play every summer a one-month tournament, for the players it’s a killer. If it’s every two years it clashes with the women’s World Cup, with the Olympic football tournament.’

“The value is precisely because it is every four years, you wait for it, it’s like the Olympic Games, it’s a huge event. I don’t see our federations supporting that.’

All parties agree that the international fixture calendar is congested and needs reforming. However, a power struggle appears to be developing between FIFA and UEFA, with money and influence at its heart.

A two-year World Cup would be highly lucrative for FIFA, which says it wants to give more nations the opportunity to compete and host the blue riband tournament, as well as invest additional funds in player development around the globe.

But UEFA already hosts the European Championships every four years and is planning is expanding European club football annually, including changes to its flagship competition, the Champions League

“I hope they [FIFA] will come to their senses, because I don’t see the right approach to go everywhere except the confederations, not to speak to us,’ added Ceferin.

‘They didn’t come, they didn’t call, I didn’t get a letter or anything. I just read in the media.”

A meeting of all UEFA’s 55 member countries has been called for Tuesday when the FIFA plan will be raised.

UEFA is furious that the proposals for the biennial World Cup have been developed and shared prior to consultation with confederations.

The European Leagues group has also voiced its objection to the plans as have 58 fan groups from around the world.

However, FIFA has begun a consultation with former players and coaches. It says it has spoken to 80 high-profile figures in the game, who are reportedly all supportive.

This week a new Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on the future of men’s football, which features players and coaches from all six confederations has met in Doha, Qatar.

Among them were former Everton and Australian international, Tim Cahill, Manchester United’s legendary goalkeeper and Norway international, Peter Schmeichel and the Brazilian Ronaldo.

They joined Wenger in extolling the virtues of a biennial World Cup and reformed fixture calendar.

More to follow.