European clubs slam World Cup expansion plans

The body representing European clubs has attacked
FIFA's suggested World Cup expansion as proof the
organisation is unable to reform itself.

The European Club Association has condemned FIFA's
suggested expansion of the World Cup without consultation as
proof the crisis-stricken body "is unable to deliver a sustainable
governance model".

FIFA on Thursday issued details of its proposed reform process,
the same day as two of its senior figures - CONMEBOL president
Juan Angel Napout and his CONCACAF counterpart Alfredo
Hawit - were arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes.

Together with the suggested governance and structural changes
unveiled in Zurich, FIFA confirmed that the proposed expansion
of its marquee competition, the World Cup, from 32 to 40
countries had been debated, with a decision yet to be made.

That concept has drawn a swift rebuke from the ECA. The
association, which represents the interests of clubs playing in
UEFA competitions, including powerful Champions League
heavyweights such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern
Munich, has already been highly critical of FIFA's intention to
stage the 2022 World Cup in Qatar during the traditional
European domestic season.

The ECA, whose clubs own the registrations of a large
proportion of the elite international players that appear at a
World Cup, on Friday issued a statement condemning FIFA's
proposed expansion of the tournament.

"The recommendation … to enhance the number of participating
teams in the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 40 without prior
consultation with the clubs (in full knowledge of the impact this
will have on the professional club game), is proof that the
proposed reforms are not at the required standard allowing for a
new and modern FIFA," the statement read.

"ECA believes that rather than reduce the risk of tension within
the football family, the proposed recommendations will only lead
to increased frustration among stakeholders."

FIFA has been embroiled in a corruption scandal following a
wave of arrests of current and former senior figures in May,
which has led to the resignation of Sepp Blatter as president.

The Swiss, together with UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA
general secretary Jerome Valcke, was subsequently banned
from football activities by the global governing body's own
Ethics Committee.

And while FIFA is attempting to instigate reforms intended to
satisfy demands for greater accountability and transparency in
its operations, ECA believes the organisation is not equipped to
achieve that goal without outside intervention.

"ECA had misgivings towards the manner in which FIFA
managed this reform process, but agreed to give FIFA the
benefit of the doubt, believing that it was serious in its attempt
to modernise the governance of world football," the statement
said.

"However, given the recommendations that have now been
presented, ECA was right to believe that a reform process led
from within is unable to deliver a sustainable governance model,
which is fit for the 21st century."