European football’s governing body UEFA has advised FIFA to stop pushing its plan for a two-year World Cup and engage in genuine consultation over reform of the international match calendar.
FIFA is conducting a feasibility study into holding the World Cup on a two-yearly basis, a change from the current four-yearly cycle, but has made no secret of its desire to switch to such a format.
Former Arsenal Manager who is now FIFA’s head of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger had said he is convinced of the switch.
UEFA in a statement said it is disappointed with the procedure adopted, which has so far led to radical reform projects being communicated and openly promoted before having been given, together with other stakeholders, the chance to participate in any consultation meeting.
It added that there were numerous concerns about the impact of such a switch including the “dilution” of the World Cup’s value, risks of players being over-worked and women’s football suffering from annual men’s tournaments.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin had warned of a potential European boycott of the World Cup if FIFA’s plans went ahead.
