Thursday, September 23, 2021
“Share the Doubts”
EU opposes FIFA World Cup plans
FIFA wants to host World Cups every two years. But the world football association is pretty much alone with that. There is strong resistance from Europe. From UEFA, from the DFB – and now also from the EU Commission.
The European Commission was the first political heavyweight to oppose the plans of the world football association FIFA to shorten the World Cup cycle from four to two years. “I share the doubts of the national football associations in Europe about the possibility of a football World Cup taking place every two years,” said Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas.
From the point of view of the German Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, FIFA is only pursuing financial goals with its initiative. “Europe is the epicenter of football in the world and we have a duty to uphold a model that respects the interests of fans, the well-being of players and the general logic of the global sports calendar, and not just commercial interests,” said the Greek .
With his rejection of the FIFA future project, Schinas is in line with the European association UEFA. The continental umbrella organization had only last Wednesday underlined its criticism of the FIFA World Cup plans and the non-transparent approach of the world association. The German Football Association (DFB) supports, according to a presidium decision last Friday, “unreservedly” the UEFA position, “according to which a decision on such an important matter cannot be made without the consent of the European associations and European football”.
The skepticism at the European political level about a change in the more than 90-year-old World Cup rhythm is to be documented not only by Schinas but also by the European Parliament. In an addition to a cross-factional resolution on EU sports policy, which is to be voted on at the end of October, the current draft also includes the request of the MPs to international sports organizations, “the established time intervals between international competitions, especially European and world championships respect”.