The president of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, defended on Monday, December 20, his plan to reform the world football calendar, including that of a World Cup organized every 2 years. ” We will take the time it takes to move forward and draw conclusions “, He assured, however, giving no date for a vote on the subject. According to FIFA, a biennial World Cup would generate an additional $ 4.4 billion in revenue.
“ We will take the time it takes to move forward and draw conclusions. »This December 20, 2021 in Zurich, Gianni Infantino has defended a World Cup organized every 2 years. But the Swiss have calmed the game over the adoption of this controversial project. Asked whether he would abandon the idea of organizing a vote on the subject at the next FIFA Congress, on March 31, 2022 in Doha, the president of the International Football Federation (FIFA) responded : ” No ! Have I already said that? However, he did not want to confirm that the 211 member associations will soon have to decide on a vast reform of the world calendar which also concerns women’s and youth competitions.
” It is important to analyze, study, insisted Infantino. There is a lot of opposition, there are also a lot of favorable voices. However, FIFA is a global organization. That’s why we really have to try to reconcile all these different points of view. “.
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On the side of the European football confederation (UEFA), in particular, opposition to a biennial World Cup has been fierce. European football players believe that the reform desired by FIFA could heavily penalize them and have the support of the South American Confederation (Conmebol). ” Perhaps UEFA had yet to see the numbers. We presented these reports for the first time », Slipped Infantino.
$ 4.4 billion in additional revenue
At the end of the Summit on the Future of World Football, FIFA unveiled the results of two feasibility studies carried out by the firms Nielsen and OpenEconomics. ” Independent experts told us that hosting the FIFA World Cup every two years would generate additional revenues of $ 4.4 billion for the first quadrennial cycle, a sum that would benefit all 211 member associations. “
According to FIFA, from this perspective, a solidarity fund of 3.5 billion dollars would be established with revenues to be distributed to all its member associations (MAs), thus injecting on average up to 16 million dollars to each MA.
” The cake will be bigger for everyone. And so there will be more for everyone “, Promised Gianni Infatino, assuring moreover that” younger generations want a World Cup to take place more often “. Arsène Wenger, figurehead of a biennial World Cup, expressed ” regret that 90% of the opposition [au projet de réforme de la FIFA, NDLR] is emotional and not based on facts “. ” No have to overcome these fears », Claimed the French.
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