Club World Cup: Top European clubs refuse to take part in revamped tournament before 2024 despite Gianni Infantino’s plans

Club World Cup: Top European clubs refuse to take part in revamped tournament before 2024 despite Gianni Infantino’s plans
Europe’s top clubs have told Gianni Infantino they will not take part in a revamped Club World Cup in 2021, scuppering the FIFA president’s plans until at least 2024.The stark message comes in a letter to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin from the European Club Association, which represents 232 of the continent’s leading teams, and was sent via email on Tuesday, three days before a crucial meeting of FIFA’s ruling council in Miami on Friday.3

The letter is a blow to Infantino

The letter is believed to remind Ceferin that the ECA “is unwilling to consider any new or significantly revised competition prior to a holistic assessment” of the international match calendar, which has been agreed until 2024.Ceferin, however, did not really need reminding of this as he and the ECA are in agreement in their anger at how Infantino has gone about this attempt to rewrite the calendarBut the letter will enable the Slovenian, who is also a FIFA vice-president, to tell FIFA there can be no new money-spinner without the game’s biggest stars.Infantino has been trying to get approval for his new Club World Cup for a year and it had seemed he was inching closer to victory this week, as German federation boss and FIFA Council member Reinhard Grindel said he backed the idea – a possible sign that Europe’s opposition was splintering.3

Ceferin is believed to agree with the ECA’s letter

The current seven-team competition is held every winter but is largely ignored in Europe, football’s largest market, and FIFA is desperate to breathe new life into it and earn more money to distribute throughout the game.The FIFA plan has evolved since Infantino first mentioned it at a FIFA Council meeting in Colombia last year but the latest idea is for 24 teams – eight from Europe, six from South America, three each from Africa, Asia and North and Central America and one from Oceania – to play in a pilot tournament that could be worth 50million to each club.But despite that sweetener, Europe’s elite are unmoved and the language of the letter, which has been signed by Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward, Celtic’s Peter Lawwell and the bosses of Ajax, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris St Germain, is implacable. Using phrases such as “much to our disappointment” and “utter disregard”, the ECA criticises FIFA for failing to consult properly, with the ‘Taskforce’ set up to resolve Europe’s concerns not letting the clubs discuss the international match calendar or examine Infantino’s financial plans.On the issue of the calendar, the ECA stance could not be clearer, as it points out a pilot tournament in June 2021 would “result in the following uninterrupted sequence of competitions”: national and UEFA club competitions until the end of May, an international window including the UEFA Nations League finals, an 18-day Club World Cup from June 17-July 4, the Africa Cup of Nations and CONCACAF Gold Cup in July, and then the new domestic seasons.

LIVE on talkSPORT

There are seven live commentaries remaining across the talkSPORT network this week. Find out what they are and when you can hear them, below...

• Watford vs Crystal Palace (Saturday) talkSPORT
• Leeds vs Sheffield United (Saturday) talkSPORT 2
• West Ham vs Huddersfield (Saturday) talkSPORT 2
• Swansea vs Manchester City (Saturday) talkSPORT
• Wolves vs Manchester United (Saturday) talkSPORT
• Millwall vs Brighton (Sunday) talkSPORT 2
• Fulham vs Liverpool (Sunday) talkSPORT

“In proposing this calendar…FIFA confirms that the protection and well-being of players and the vital interests of clubs are not a priority for football’s world governing body,” it said.This places the clubs on the same side of the argument as world players’ union FIFPro, which made its opposition to the plan public on Wednesday.The ECA is also annoyed that Infantino’s other big proposal from 12 months ago, a global Nations League, has not been killed off, despite no real enthusiasm for it from anywhere.3

Real Madrid are the reigning Club World Cup champions

And it is scathing about FIFA’s refusal to reveal more details on who its backers are for the new tournaments, although it is widely believed to be investors from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in a group led by Japan’s technology fund SoftBank.FIFA’s failure to “provide any meaningful information” on the proposal to sell 49 per cent of the new events – in a 12-year deal worth 25billion US dollars (18.8billion) – is “perturbing” and inconsistent with its “stated objectives to modernise” and operate in an “open and transparent manner”.The letter concludes by saying the ECA’s members are willing to talk about how a revamped Club World Cup might fit in the calendar after 2024, which they believe was settled in an agreement reached with FIFA in 2015.

---

A pitch invader brought the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur to a temportary halt in Madrid on Saturday evening. The scantily-clad intruder was wearing a skimpy swimsuit advertising a Russian porn pranking website and was quickly escorted off the pitch by security.
UEFA 2019 Final Pitch Invasion Russian model Ft Zdorovetskiy

---

Kane's injury and Son's absence at such a critical time in the season will truly be a test for Spurs, and Jan Vertonghen, who spoke to The Guardian, believes that now is the time for the rest of
Harry Kane Set to Face a Month on the Sidelines With Ankle

---

Manchester United has been knocked off the top spot in Football Observatory's list of most expensive squads in world football. Premier League, and is now the club's most valuable

---

Scotland squad: Alex McLeish names Oliver Burke and uncapped

---

back in a job Henry lasted just three months in the dugout in his first ever job as a head coach Thierry Henry will reportedly rejoin Belgium's coaching staff after his disastrous spell as Monaco manager.
Simon Jordan - talkSPORT

---

This will, as always, be the most informed and comprehensive list of Football Manager 2018 wonderkids you will ever find.. When it comes to wonderkid lists, you already know FM Scout is the go-to place for maximum accuracy and detail.

---

United Training: Cardiff the game's only goal to defeat Leicester at the King Power Stadium. Manchester City. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's post-match press
Watch Manchester United TV Online - mutv.manutd.com

---

As per reports, Arsenal have been boosted to land Sevilla star Ever Banega this summer window. Arsenal keen on landing top quality midfielder The Gunners could bring in Ever Banega in a £10million transfer deal after the La Liga side slashed the Argentine's valuation, according to media reports.
Emery orders Arsenal to complete €20m Banega deal

---

Rondon breaks down in tears on TV after recalling McCarthy injury when he caught McCarthy's leg while the Everton midfielder and striker were both looking to kick the ball away.Rondon was

---

A fan appeared to kick and punch Sunderland defender O'Nien during Thursday's ill-tempered League One play-off clash, with the player saying he was asked by police if he wanted to press charges.
Portsmouth vs Sunderland - LIVE updates from League One play

---

Ashley Cole has completed a move to play under former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard at Championship side Derby. Cole, who left LA Galaxy in November and has been a free agent since, has returned to English football after a four-and-a-half year absence. TRANSFERS. Transfer grades: Rating every major signing from Europe
Cole joins former team-mate Lampard at Derby County for

---

Chelsea face Manchester City in the final of the Carabao Cup on Sunday and you can listen to coverage live on talkSPORT with kick off at 4.30pm. Post navigation Previous Post Previous post: Cardiff City 1-5 Watford: Gerard Deulofeu and Troy Deeney star as Hornets thrash Bluebirds in Premier Leauge
Virgil van Dijk wants to become a Liverpool legend and retire
footballnote.com/virgil-van-dijk-wants-to-become-a-liverpool-legend-and-retire-in-london/
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah admits he feels pressure of the title race and defends former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho Next Cardiff City 1-5 Watford: Gerard Deulofeu and Troy Deeney star as Hornets thrash Bluebirds in Premier Leauge
EPL Table: 2018 Week 18 Standings After Saturday's Premier

---

Eden Hazard: How Real Madrid could line-up next season with

---