The International Football Federations Thread

[Lineker]

 

[Lineker]

Quote

A World Cup every two years would create a $3.5bn “solidarity scheme” to support football in less developed countries, the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, has said as he revived the controversial plans.

“It’s the reverse of the Super League,” he said. “It’s about opportunity for all. That is the fundamental principle of this project.”

Infantino presented a feasibility study into a biennial men’s World Cup to international federations on Monday and included in the information was research conducted by the consultancy Nielsen that claimed the switch would create “a combined additional $4.4bn (£3.3bn) in revenue from the first four-year cycle”, a 62% increase from current levels.

Infantino said the growth in revenuewould enable the creation of a new fund, which would support individual associations and allow for a development scheme for players and coaches. That scheme would be implemented by the former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, who said it had been devised to “give everyone the chance to play top-quality football who wants it”.

In October Infantino had apparently stepped back from a biennial World Cup after it was vehemently opposed by Uefa and the South American federation, Conmebol, and many other critical voices. Infantino said at the time the plans could go ahead only if they “bring everyone together”.

Since then, Uefa and Conmebol have announced closer ties between the organisations including a shared ‘Nations League’ with South American national sides competing in Europe.

Separate studies conducted by Uefa and the World Leagues Forum have claimed a World Cup every two years would have substantial financial impacts on regional associations and on club competitions. On Monday Infantino said it would create opportunities for financial redistribution but the precise details would be confirmed only if the plans were voted through.

The fund, he said, “will obviously have to be invested in accordance with different criteria to ensure that money is invested in the right places. We need first to go through and take a decision to go ahead.”

Infantino denied a doubling of World Cups would lead to any loss of prestige for the tournament, saying, “the cake only becomes bigger”. The changes would mean moving the Africa Cup of Nations to the autumn and European Championship finals to odd years but it would also mean a men’s international tournament being played in the same summer as the women’s World Cup.

Fifa’s lead on the development on the women’s game, Jill Ellis, said a biennial women’s World Cup was still planned, alongside a global club tournament.

Infantino said the full feasibility studies would be published in the coming days but he would not commit to putting the plans to a vote at the Fifa Congress in Qatar in March. “It will take the time it takes to come to this good decision,” he said.

 

[DFF]

... it would also be shit. 

[gunnar hendershow]

 

[Colly]

Remember when Draw Baldy was cool?

 

[gunnar hendershow]

He actually got the job because he'd make people long for the days of Sepp Blatter.

[DavidMarrio]

I don't get how he can come to the conclusion of 

"You know, the reason these people are putting their lives of risk to migrate is cause they really want to see more World Cups... what'll make it better for them is if we even add another 4 teams to the tournament!" 

[Lineker]

Quote

Fifa’s plans for a biennial World Cup have come under a coordinated ambush from International Olympic Committee members in Beijing, with one warning it would create “immeasurable damage” to global sport.

Three delegates in a row at the 139th IOC congress in Beijing stepped up to attack Gianni Infantino’s controversial idea before the IOC president Thomas Bach intervened to say that the Fifa president – who was due in Beijing – had not shown up and that further criticism should wait.

Those critical of Fifa’s plan included the National Olympic Committees of Africa President Mustapha Berraf, who claimed it would have a “heavy impact” on the continent and football in general.

“The plan would create immeasurable damage and would put sport in danger and in particular football,” said Berraf. “It would simply push away other sports and relegate them to the back benches which is unacceptable and create a rift between women’s and men’s sport and be a setback to our aim of creating equity and parity for all sports.”

He also pointed out that footballers were “not robots”, adding “I make the request to put an end to this endeavour which is incompatible with our Olympic values,” he added.

Berraf’s intervention was particularly notable given that Infantino, who is an IOC member himself, last week claimed that his biennial World Cup proposal could help prevent African migrants from finding “death in the sea”.

Nenad Lalovic, head of the United World Wrestling, and Ryu Seung-min, a former table tennis gold medallist and a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, also condemned the idea.

“Football should cooperate in solidarity with other sports and International Federations,” added Ryu, “Sport is for all and we need more solidarity among sport.”

However, Bach then stepped in to reveal that Infantino had cancelled his visit to Beijing two days ago – and that any discussions should take place with Infantino present.

“We would like to discuss this with the Fifa president but this is not possible because he cancelled his visit to Beijing the day before yesterday,” said Bach. “We should not discuss this now on a wider scale on this issue in his absence in respect for our colleague.

“If you agree, we will try to take contact with him again and forward these comments which have been made by Mr Berraf, Mr Lalovic and Mr Ryu to him and Fifa.”

 

[Lineker]

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The option to make five substitutions in a match is set to be made permanent by the game’s lawmakers next month, reports PA. The International Football Association Board’s annual general meeting will take place on 3 March and it is expected that the temporary dispensation to Law 3 to allow up to five changes in a game – introduced to help clubs manage congestion related to the Covid-19 pandemic – will be made a permanent option for competitions worldwide. It doesn’t mean the Premier League has to adopt it, however, though many other leagues already have and will likely continue to do so. The wording of the offside law will also be discussed at the meeting, though it is understood it is very unlikely any changes to it will be ratified.

 

[Adam]

I'm really not a fan of 5 subs, it led to a lot of matches becoming disjointed in the second half of games when we had it in the EFL.

[gunnar hendershow]

With the ridiculous schedule congestion that appears to never be going away I have to say it's probably better for the players as a whole. Though realistically I'd like 3 tactical subs + unlimited subs for what are deemed serious injuries (mainly but not limited to concussions).

[Bobfoc]

Quite a few lower league clubs struggle to get five subs on the bench anyway.

[Colly]

It undoubtedly benefits richer clubs which of course means I'm all for it.

Spoiler

Nah, it's fucking daft

 

[Baddar]

Ademola Lookman will represent Nigeria from now on.

[Colly]

Following the footsteps of giants.

[The Lusophone]

 

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

It's nonsense to move it to 2, when on earth would they fit in the Continental tournaments?

[The Lusophone]

33 minutes ago, My Chemical JeRomance said:

It's nonsense to move it to 2, when on earth would they fit in the Continental tournaments?

Off-years apparently. Never mind that it would also interfere with the Olympics and the Women's World Cup.

[METALMAN]

On 04/02/2022 at 20:31, Colly said:

It undoubtedly benefits richer clubs which of course means I'm all for it.

  Reveal hidden contents

Nah, it's fucking daft

 

I know you said this ages ago but I’m not be necessarily convinced this is the case. If you consider the distribution of football skills to be like a pyramid, with very few exceptional players at the top and masses of average players at the bottom, you would also expect the average difference between top clubs’ starting players and top clubs’ subs to be greater than the average difference between an average club’s starters and subs. 

[Colly]

That doesn't feel statistically sound, and regardless average difference between the relative standards isn't really the relevant stat anyway. If a big club can bring on 5 fresh subs that are likely better than the oppositions starters it's clearly an advantage on only being able to bring on 3. Burnley can't afford to have their 5th sub be a superstar, Man City can easily.