Via Sky Sports:
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher believes over-used players are being “treated like cattle” and European clubs should boycott the new Club World Cup format.
He tweeted: “Like the ridiculous idea of the World Cup every two years, this is another one from Infantino.
“Players need rest at some point, they are getting treated like cattle. FIFA hate the Champions League & want something similar themselves. European clubs should boycott it
Jamie Carragher on X (formerly Twitter): “Like the ridiculous idea of @FIFAWorldCup every two years, this is another one from Infantino. Players need rest at some point, they are getting treated like cattle. FIFA hate the CL & want something similar themselves. European clubs should boycott it. https://t.co/YHdbAx8rna / X”
Like the ridiculous idea of @FIFAWorldCup every two years, this is another one from Infantino. Players need rest at some point, they are getting treated like cattle. FIFA hate the CL & want something similar themselves. European clubs should boycott it. https://t.co/YHdbAx8rna
‘European clubs don’t want to be playing more games’
Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol in Qatar:
“FIFA have decided to press ahead with plans to have an expanded Club World Cup in 2025. Infantino says it’s going to be the best teams from around the world and he says it’s going to be just like this World Cup but instead of having countries, you’re going to have clubs. It is going to be controversial, because if you look at the match calendar, how are you going to fit all these games in?
“How are you going to fit in a new tournament and a new competition for clubs? We’ve heard from Premier League managers and managers of other European clubs as well who have said they are against this, and by and large, most of the European clubs are against it as well as they don’t want to be playing more games.
“But, of course, business is business and I think if they were offered enough prize money to take part in this new FIFA competition then I’m sure that would change their minds. In terms of where this first Club World Cup is likely to be, the early indication we’re getting from FIFA is that they would like it to be in the United States.
“The next World Cup in 2026 is going to be in Canada, Mexico and the United States and if the Club World Cup does go ahead I think it’s likely to be in the USA. UEFA and European clubs are against it, but as far as Gianni Infantino is concerned that doesn’t matter.
“The major problem FIFA have is the bulk of their revenue comes from the World Cup and that only happens every four years. So what they want is another competition – something like the Champions League – which will get more money coming into their coffers.”
‘FIFA’s unilateral decisions on the calendar damaging for football industry’
A statement from The World Leagues Forum (WLF), said: “The World Leagues Forum (WLF), the world association of professional football leagues, has been informed that the FIFA Council has today made significant decisions about the international match calendar that could have damaging consequences for the football economy and player welfare.
“These decisions have been made unilaterally without consulting, let alone agreeing, with those who are directly affected by them: the leagues, their member clubs, the players and fans.
“FIFA announced a 32-team Club World Cup in 2025 and decided key principles for the new International Match Calendar post-2024. FIFA also announced its intention to review the men’s World Cup format in 2026 to potentially include significantly more games with groups of 4 teams instead of 3 as initially agreed.
“As the calendar is already overloaded, with longstanding domestic club competitions and ever-expanding international competitions, FIFA’s decision creates the risk of fixture congestion, further player injuries and a distortion of competitive balance.
“The interests of the football community, which we expect FIFA to take care of, are not best-served by piling-up FIFA-owned matches which only involve the top 1% of players. Instead, we should all expect FIFA to create the environment for a complementary balance between domestic and international football for the benefit of the whole game.
“The WLF is contacting FIFA to ask for a transparent process for their calendar and competition decisions, which must involve meaningful agreements with the leagues.
“We will convene a board meeting in January to review FIFA’s response and assess the impact their proposals could have on the foundations of the game at domestic level.”
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