Europe's top soccer leagues cautioned that FIFA's biennial World Cup plan is still on the table and they vowed Friday to resist the proposed overhauls of the international match schedule.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised Wednesday to seek a global consensus during a longer period of consultation about the World Cup's future. That was seen as him acknowledging the strength of European opposition to doubling the frequency of the World Cup.
"We do have no other alternative than strongly reject the FIFA proposals," said Swart, a former official at the Netherlands' top league. FIFA's proposal also calls for biennial continental tournaments such as the European Championship and South America's Copa America to ensure major men's events in June every year.
"Football as a whole cannot accept those proposals," he said after a two-day meeting of European Leagues members in Milan.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FIFA aims to make World Cup tournament draw on April 1FIFA schedules World Cup draw for April 1 in Qatar
Read more »
Canadian men's team moves up to 48th on FIFA rankings, closing in on all-time highThe Canadian men's soccer team has moved up to No. 48 on FIFA's latest rankings, closing in on its all-time high of 40th overall, reached back in 1996.
Read more »
Strong storm causes 4 deaths in Poland, damage across Europe
Read more »
Police detain 11 across Europe in mafia probePolice in Germany, Italy and Bulgaria detained 11 people and raided 46 residential and commercial buildings in an investigation into tax fraud by the Italian mafia involving the trade in luxury vehicles.
Read more »
FIFA aims to make World Cup tournament draw on April 1FIFA schedules World Cup draw for April 1 in Qatar
Read more »
Canada's men's national soccer team cracks FIFA's top 50
Read more »