FA 'deeply concerned' by Fifa plan as Uefa to meet
European football's governing body took the remarkable step of issuing a response to Fifa's plans before they had been published on Tuesday, responding to reports
European football's governing body took the remarkable step of issuing a response to Fifa's plans before they had been published on Tuesday, responding to reports in the Financial Times and the Times as it condemned the plans, saying they had "crossed a line". The meeting will be held virtually and offer the opportunity to work out a plan of action. Given the strength of feeling, it would be a surprise if the possibility of a boycott was not at least raised. Uefa is not the only organisation unhappy with the situation. Concacaf, which covers North and Central America and hosted this summer's World Cup, is also concerned at the turn of events. "We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process," the organisation said in its own statement. "We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place.
"As leaders within football, we are the custodians of the game. Collectively, Fifa, the confederations and every member association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport." For Uefa, the situation is complex. While the confederation only accounts for a quarter of Fifa's 211-country membership, it does include most of the world's most successful teams. Six of the eight quarter-finalists - including winners Spain - at this summer's World Cup were European. In the 2022 and 2018 editions, the figures were five and six respectively. Uefa knows any competition Fifa puts together would be far less valuable if its members were not involved. Fifa's argument that it is compelled to look at proposals that would help it grow the game globally has led to fears about expansion at a time when proposals for a 64-team World Cup in 2030, which will be hosted by six countries in three confederations, are gathering pace.
That would have huge implications for the football calendar, which is already squeezed, partly because of the expansion of European club competitions. One senior source within the English game told BBC Sport the threat posed by Fifa's plan is one of the biggest the game has faced and is on a par with the European Super League plan, which created controversy in 2021 and was scrapped within 48 hours. It seems unlikely Fifa will back down in the same manner. Fifa said its plan is to extend global development funding to $10bn (£7.5bn). It is also planning to offer each of the 211 member associations the opportunity to access up to $20m (£15m) in one-off capital. This latest escalation extends a difficult relationship between Fifa and Uefa, which responded angrily to attempts to hold the World Cup every two years when the idea was floated by former Arsenal manager and Fifa's current chief of global football development Arsene Wenger in 2021.
The BriefWire