Chelsea among Premier League clubs oppose FIFA proposal for biennial World Cups
According to the Football.London, European Champions Chelsea, along with all other 19 Premier League clubs, have voted against a proposal by FIFA to hold biennial World Cups.
The Premier League, on Thursday, has announced that all 20 clubs opposed FIFA’s proposal for the FIFA World Cup to be held every two years.
“All 20 Premier League clubs have discussed the post-2024 International Match Calendar reform process and are unanimously opposed to FIFA’s proposal for biennial men’s World Cups, along with any plans involving significantly extended international windows.”
“Clubs raised concerns about the negative impacts FIFA’s current proposals would have on player welfare, the fan experience, pre-season preparations and the quality of competitions.”
The idea of a biennial men’s World Cup first became public this year, when the Saudi Arabian Football Association asked FIFA to conduct a feasibility study, approved by a substantial majority of its 211 members.
Plans quickly gathered momentum and Fifa’s head of global football development, Arsene Wenger even presented a fully-fledged plan to stakeholders.
The Frenchman told Rio Ferdinand on the FIVE YouTube channel that people were held back by nostalgia and the want to maintain the status quo, and that if the idea was accepted majorly by fans for the Womens’ game, then it should be equally feasible for the men’s edition.
“Why is it bad for men then? That shows that the reluctance is basically emotional. We have all grown up in that cycle of (a World Cup) every four years and we want to keep it as it is.”
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There were even talks to hold voting in December but it was criticised worldwide. UEFA has also vocally opposed a biennial World Cup, with criticism coming also from the International Olympic Committee and one of FIFA’s chief sponsors, Adidas.
