'Shame': FIFA's shock World Cup plans spark $4.7 billion mayhem
UEFA has detailed its substantial losses to FIFA if the controversial plans to hold the World Cup every two years goes ahead.
On Wednesday, plans appeared to gather steam as proposals led by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, now FIFA's chief of global football development, look set to re-shape the international football calendar.
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FIFA's plans include a men's tournament every June, mandatory 25-day rest periods for players after their involvement in tournaments, and cutting the number of qualifying matches and the number of international breaks during a season.
Closing the gap between World Cups from four years to two, however, has been met with widespread opposition, including from the International Olympic Committee.
As a result, Le Monde said the study conducted by London-based Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates was commissioned in September and the findings were revealed to their 55 national associations on Tuesday.
And the findings showed UEFA would lose billions over a number of years due to the restructuring of the football calendar.
FIFA wants the World Cup to happen every 2 years and are planning to tell National Teams.
🗞 @ellarguero pic.twitter.com/ZQEAt0A6Dp— Pubity Sport (@PubitySportIG) October 19, 2021
French media outlet Le Monde says an independent report commissioned by UEFA claimed the European football body would lose 3 billion euro ($A4.7 billion) over four years if FIFA's proposed new calendar was introduced.
Football world reacts to World Cup change
The move, in particular to hold the World Cup every two years, has received widespread backlash in the football community.
Roberto Martinez disagrees with Arsene Wenger and FIFA's proposal for a World Cup every two years 👀 pic.twitter.com/dRv5Ed6D4R
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 15, 2021
We need to treat this like the Super League, having a World Cup every 2 years makes 0 sense https://t.co/PX11cahIkq
— AdrianSZN (@LFC_Empire) October 19, 2021
FIFA will play the World Cup every 2 years. Robbing the world’s biggest competition of its value. I spoke out against the Super League but FIFA & UEFA aren‘t better by any means. It‘s just evil vs evil in this modern football. The game is getting less interesting every year to me
— Fiago (@fiago7) October 19, 2021
Disappointing. The value of the World Cup is going to take a hit. Players are going to be able to break insane records and the players of the past and the game’s history will be disrespected more and more. All that for some extra money. Shame on FIFA. Sad to see https://t.co/GdIwwng24b
— ً (@DenyFootball) October 19, 2021
UEFA's study showed this was where the risk to revenues would impact most, with 2.5bn euro ($A3.9 billion) losses incurred if there were two international windows in October and March and 3 billion euro if a single window was adopted over a four-year cycle.
The deficit would be mainly related to income from match tickets, broadcasting revenue and sponsorship, with some deals already contracted under the current structure.
The independent study also examined the impact of both mental fatigue for players and a lack of competition for some of nations, who if they fail to qualify for the final stages could be without an international fixture for as long as six months.
It also suggested women's football would lose standing, as the showpiece events would conflict against men's tournaments as well as the Olympic Games, while the study concluded there would be a "domino effect" on domestic competitions across UEFA.
with AAP
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