FIFA Corruption Thread

[Alex]

The point about players pulling out of 50/50s is interesting. Ive always been of the opinion that lots of players will take their foot off the gas unconsciously in the months leading up to a World Cup.

[Muddled]

It will wipe out eight weeks of domestic football which will have shoe-horned into May and June. The FA Cup will be put on hold, the League Cup will have to play catch up and as Alex has said, any momentum will be lost. Players will pull out of 50/50's in the earlier parts of the season, conserve energy, etc, and then there is the potential of injuries during the competition itself.

Then it'll be pre-season, another football season and then it's Euro 2024. As much as we dislike the money in the game and the cash players earn, the pressure and physical impact on these people will be incredible.

[fah-q]

UEFA has also confirmed to Sky Sports News HQ that it has suggested the final should be played on December 23 - the preferred date of most of the confederations according to FIFA - with the tournament getting under way on November 26.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of the European Clubs' Association, stated on Tuesday that the leading European clubs would demand compensation from FIFA if the 2022 World Cup was played in November and December, as has been recommended by the FIFA task force.

The former Germany international claimed such a move would cause "great damage" to domestic football due to the rescheduling of match calendars.

He said: "European clubs and leagues cannot be expected to bear the costs for such rescheduling. We expect the clubs to be compensated for the damage that a final decision would cause.”

However, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has insisted that leading European clubs, including the top Premier League teams, will not receive any financial compensation.

He said: "There will be no compensation. There are seven years to reorganise. We are in agreement with the clubs."

Valcke also called on European clubs to accept the scheduling switch - which is expected to be confirmed at FIFA's executive committee meeting in Zurich on March 19 and 20 - even though "it's not perfect".

"It is happening once and we are doing nothing that destroys football," he said.

"Why should we apologise to the clubs? We have had an agreement with the clubs that they are part of the beneficiaries. It was 40 million (US) dollars in 2010 and 70 million in 2014.

"We are bringing all our people to enjoy the sporting and financial results of the World Cup.

"I definitely don't feel I have to apologise for the decision to confirm that the World Cup will not be played in the summer."

Valcke also confirmed that the 2022 World Cup will be four days shorter as a "concession" to the leagues and clubs - 28 days instead of the usual 32 - and that the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 will be moved to June from January.

December 18 remains a strong possibility for the final - it is Qatar's national day and also falls on a Sunday - with the other option of December 23 preferred by the confederations despite opposition from the Premier League and Football Association due to the disruption it would cause to the festive programme in England.

Valcke said: "Most confederations say they want the World Cup to end on the 23rd of December."

[Vermilion]

Funnily enough Gary Neville is also very positive about it.

Said it's a shame how we ended up here, but that the continent totally deserves a world cup, so it's right that it's ended up being there.

As for it causing problems for the Premier league, he said something like....'hang on..this isn't the Sherpa Vans Trophy were talking about, it's a WC!'

[fah-q]

Well if geniuses such as those believe its a good idea, who are we to argue?

[Muddled]

Phil Neville told BBC Sport a winter World Cup could be the "best thing that's ever happened" to England because the players would be fresh. Combined with Hodgson saying our players will peak at 2022 maybe we shouldn't boycott it.

[Alex]

Id guess they wont have a winter break, or they will but itll be at the end of the world cup. All said and done I think itll be a 8 week section of the season thats blocked out.

It could totally ruin a team on a run going for the league. Imagine if it had happened to us during our run last season. All that momentum and then its ripped away for 2 months. Loads can change in that time frame.

[Muddled]

A good point. I was hoping there was some freshly signed ten year TV deal in place.

Apparently this will also have an impact to Liverpel's Cup of Nations and the Copa America too. Even the winter breaks that most European teams have don't coincide with the time FIFA want to host the World Cup. It's a farce.

[Alex]

I know you did

I want that to be true on the contractual side, but with it being 7 years away I dont think any TV or commercial deals would have been signed for then yet.

As I say, something needs to happen. But I dont think it will. But at the moment, I cant see an upside of being part of FIFA.

[Muddled]

I knew this would get brought up.

I dont hate football. I am really sad that its being killed by these people.

But yeah, maybe its a bit pointless getting worked up about something I cant ever change.

I've had the quote saved for 24 hours or so. Waiting.

Anyway, it was only a pushed knuckle to the cheek as I completely agree. The game is slowly being ripped apart by money and a winter World Cup is ridiculous.

I'm of the opinion that the FA and Premier League will look at the logistics of moving Premier League fixtures, it's contractual obligations, etc and have a quiet word with other UEFA members. If, say France and Germany (amongst others), are of a similar mindset, I think they could look to boycott.

[fah-q]

Hater.

[Alex]

.

I knew this would get brought up.

I dont hate football. I am really sad that its being killed by these people.

But yeah, maybe its a bit pointless getting worked up about something I cant ever change.

[Vermilion]

At the moment it looks like the final is going to be on 23rd December. What a ****ing shambles with World Cup is turning into.

It'll mean that football wont restart until the new year probably. Meaning that the traditional Xmas fixtures will be trashed.

I dont really see any way of stopping FIFA on this path they are so determined to set them selves along, so whats the answer. Leaving and setting up a new Federation with like minded countries?

Qatar set out how they intended to put on the world cup in the summer, and included apparently impressive proposals to combat the heat. Why is that being kicked aside? Its not fair at all that others had to work around problems, but Qatar is being excused.

I'm yet to be convinced Qatar ever intended to follow up on all that air condidtioned pitches, stadiums, fan zones ..etc etc.

Feel it was just a blag to get the thing through.

[Muddled]

I dont get hating on things. I love most things I watch and do because I choose to do them. What the point in hating stuff?

.

[Alex]

At the moment it looks like the final is going to be on 23rd December. What a ****ing shambles with World Cup is turning into.

It'll mean that football wont restart until the new year probably. Meaning that the traditional Xmas fixtures will be trashed.

I dont really see any way of stopping FIFA on this path they are so determined to set them selves along, so whats the answer. Leaving and setting up a new Federation with like minded countries?

Qatar set out how they intended to put on the world cup in the summer, and included apparently impressive proposals to combat the heat. Why is that being kicked aside? Its not fair at all that others had to work around problems, but Qatar is being excused.