UEFA has asked for further consultations with FIFA on their plans for a two-year World Cup.
FIFA, led by global football development chief Arsene Wenger, has promoted the idea that the World Cup changes format and takes place every two years.
Wenger’s proposal would see a major final held every year, the former Arsenal manager previously suggested that players would play in another tournament if it wasn’t the World Cup either way.
However, UEFA and CONMEBOL both opposed the suggestions due to scheduling problems. Earlier this week, FIFA invited member associations to a summit to discuss the proposals.
On Wednesday, however, UEFA released a statement criticizing FIFA’s lack of consultation on a “potential radical move”.
“In May 2021, the FIFA Congress instructed the FIFA administration to conduct a study on the feasibility of a men’s and women’s World Cup every two years,” reads the statement from UEFA.
“UEFA assumes that the word ‘feasibility’ encompasses all effects and consequences and includes all matters relating to the schedule, formats and access to the final and preliminary competitions; the impact on existing club and national competitions, their sporting and commercial opportunities; the impact on players’ physical and mental health; the impact on the fans, their desire to see more frequent tournaments of this level, the sustainability for them of more frequent travel and the impact on the broad football ecosystem, with which we intend to evaluate the balance of opportunities that national teams of all 211 FIFA affiliated associations should develop in such a radically changed scenario ”.
UEFA has also expressed concern about women’s competitions receiving the attention it needs to grow the sport, impact on young players and the potential to undermine other sports.
The statement continues: “We are grateful for the attention given to the UEFA European Championship, with the proposed double frequency of its final event, but we prefer to tackle such a delicate issue with a global rather than a speculative approach.
Uefa is disappointed with the methodology adopted, which so far has led to openly communicating and promoting radical reform projects before being given, together with other stakeholders, the opportunity to participate in any consultation meeting.
UEFA statement on proposals for a two-year World Cup
– UEFA (@UEFA) September 22, 2021
UEFA also believes that the prestige of the World Cup could be reduced by playing the tournament every two years.
However, the European football governing body has recognized that consultation is needed to further refine the international calendar.
“UEFA is of the opinion that the future of the international calendar must be the subject of genuine consultation and exchange between FIFA, the confederations and the main stakeholders of the competitions, starting with an open discussion on perceived problems and considering a series of solutions that can be identified during the debate, taking into account the interest of the game and the legitimate point of view of the various parties “, concludes the statement.
“At this stage, compliance with a process of consultation with stakeholders – which should be impartial – would suggest refraining from promotional campaigns of unilaterally predetermined concepts that no one has had the opportunity to see in detail and which are wide-ranging, often unexpected, effects.
“On 14 September, UEFA and its 55 affiliated associations asked FIFA to arrange a special meeting with them to be able to voice their concerns about the impact of these plans. UEFA and its 55 member associations have not yet received a response from FIFA on this request to date. “