More than a week after requesting a special meeting, UEFA has still not received an answer from FIFA – and expressed its disappointment in a press release. The DFB, meanwhile, is critical of the online summit announced by FIFA.
UFA has once again criticised FIFA for its plans for a World Cup and European Championship every two years and is stepping up its demand for a debate on the schedule. Even more than a week after UEFA and its members asked the DFB to organise a special meeting, FIFA has yet to respond, the continental body complained in a statement on Wednesday.
“Disappointed with chosen approach “
“UEFA is disappointed with the approach taken, as radical reform projects have already been communicated and publicly promoted before UEFA has been given the opportunity to comment in a consultation process with the other stakeholders,” the press release said.
The continental association went on to point out the dangers of halving the rhythm of major tournaments: the value of the World Cup would be diminished, weaker national teams would have fewer sporting opportunities as regular matches would be replaced by finals. In addition, there would be the danger of overtaxing the players.
Hope for feasibility study
UFA says it hopes that the feasibility study commissioned by FIFA on the biennial rhythm will also “include all consequences and implications”. These include, for example, the calendar, the impact on club competitions, on the physical and mental condition of players, on fans, on the football ecosystem, on women’s and youth competitions.
Therefore, a “future design of the international match calendar should be the subject of a fundamental consultation process and exchange between FIFA, the confederations and the main stakeholders of the competitions”.
FIFA’s ideas of staging the World Cup every two years from 2028 and continental tournaments such as the European Championship every two years from 2025 had caused a lot of criticism, especially in Europe. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin threatened a boycott. The German Football Association sided with UEFA and stressed that such a decision “must not be taken without the consent of the European associations and European football”.
Online summit announced
FIFA plans to debate the controversial plan with its member associations next week. A so-called online summit on the international match calendar is to be held on 30 September. This expires at the end of 2023 for women and 2024 for men.
DFB against online summit
The DFB is critical of an online summit and said: “We do not consider a discussion among all FIFA national associations to be expedient at the moment without preparatory consultations with detailed information in all committees. Instead, they want to wait for the talks between the top representatives of UEFA and FIFA. “The DFB will fully support UEFA’s decided line against FIFA’s plans,” the statement concluded.
