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.

---

Liverpool and Man United to miss out on target. Bayern Munich are set to win the race for highly-rated Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, according to the latest reports. Both Manchester United and Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for the Ivory Coast star who enjoyed an impressive season in Ligue 1.
Transfer news LIVE updates: Sanchez to Man Utd latest

---

Just when you thought you'd seen absolutely everything in football, another utterly bizarre injury story comes along. According to reports in France, namely newspaper Sud Ouest, Bordeaux midfielder Younousse Sankhare is unavailable for selection at the moment because of 'complications from beard implants'.
Gokil! Gara-gara Implan Cambang, Eks Pemain PSG Absen dari

---

Pep Guardiola saluted Manchester City's history makers after they clinched the domestic treble with a swaggering 6-0 rout of Watford in the FA Cup final on Saturday. Guardiola's side capped an incredible campaign in fittingly dynamic fashion as Watford.. • Sports • One News Page: Monday, 20 May 2019
Pep Guardiola hails derby heroes as Manchester City moved

---

Bernardo Silva gives man of the match award to Man City team-mate Phil Foden. Man City returned to the top of the Premier League after Phil Foden's header secured a 1-0 victory over Tottenham
Manchester City 1-0 Tottenham: Bernardo Silva hands his Man

---

Arsenal will take on Rennes in the last-16 of the Europa League, while Chelsea have been paired with Dynamo Kiev.. The Gunners, who overcame BATE on Thursday, boast a competition specialist at
Chelsea to face Dynamo Kiev, Arsenal to meet Rennes

---

1sportz official | Watch Live Football, Cricket, Tennis, WWE and more News and Updates at 1sportz.com

---

Miguel Almiron: Newcastle's record signing not feeling the

---

Celtic have launched an investigation into the leak of a confidential document thought to be revealing their transfer plans this summer. Leaked photographs of the report have appeared on social media which details their plans for some contracted Hoops players as well as potential targets in each position.
Celtic news: Hoops launch probe into leak of document

---

A recent dip in form following a gruelling mid-season stretch proves they don't yet have the bodies to compete with Manchester City and Liverpool. According to the Daily Mail, though, Spurs are keen on five players this summer, with a defender and a striker high on their wish list.
'I had more security at my wedding!' - Vinnie Jones slams
hollywoodadviser.com/i-had-more-security-at-my-wedding-vinnie-jones-slams-lack-of-safety-in-english-football-after-ugly-scenes-on-sunday/
sort it Jack Grealish and Chris Smalling were both confronted by fans who invaded the pitch with apparent ease Vinnie Jones has slammed the lack of security in English football after pitch invaders were able to confront Jack Grealish and Chris Smalling.
FA Cup - Page 3 - talkSPORT

---

Liverpool transfer news: Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah will 'have their heads turned' by Barcelona or Real Madrid, Graeme Souness fears by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 6 Jun Graeme Souness believes Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah could have their heads turned if Real Madrid or Barcelona try to sign them.
Transfer news: 'Real Madrid & Barca will be sniffing around

---

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana keen on summer transfer return to Southampton. Lallana could be set for a move back to the Saints having signed for Liverpool from them five years ago
Transfer News: A Southampton return on the cards for Adam

---

Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp hails win over Man United as 'one of the best performances' since his arrival as manager Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice as the Reds beat their fierce rivals 3-1 to
Jurgen Klopp hails win over Man United as 'one of the best

---

Manchester United have asked about Leicester City defender Harry Maguire but believe the England international wants to join their rivals Manchester City if they can agree a fee with the Foxes.
Seven players Manchester United are tipped to sign in the

---

Harry Maguire reveals he does not respect Matej Vydra after crunching tackle left Czech Republic striker regretting targeting Leicester City defender.
The Latest Leicester City News (Talk Sport) | SportSpyder

---

Fulham have replaced "risk-free" with Scott. E after sacking Claudio Ranieri as manager. Ranieri, himself appointed in November as the successor to Slavisa Jokanovic, has been removed with

---