[ad_1]
French President Emmanuel Macron angered the president of European football on Tuesday by using a speech delivered at a FIFA reception to denounce a proposal to turn the Champions League into a largely closed competition.
Macron's critics at an opening ceremony of the Women's World Cup were delivered in front of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who told the Associated Press that 39, it was a "clear interference of politics in sport". On Tuesday, the French leader had urged UEFA to abandon the concept defended by elite clubs determined to retain their positions in the Champions League from 2024.
The media were not invited to Macron's reception and speech at the Grand Palais in the French capital.
"In his speech, he spoke of UEFA and said that it was necessary to pay attention to changes in the Champions League and that solidarity is important," said Ceferin in the AP . "The president's speech was a clear interference of politics in the sport that surprised us a lot." According to a proposal presented by UEFA to the European leagues last month, 24 of the 32 teams in the group stage will retain their places in the Champions League. season as promotion and relegation are introduced in three levels of competitions on the continental scale.
"It's not so important that changes can happen or not and nothing has been decided yet," Ceferin said. "The important thing is that we do not allow politics to dictate how we govern sport. And since the president has spoken of solidarity, UEFA is the only football organization in Europe to distribute solidarity funds throughout Europe. So we know what solidarity means. The proposal to revamp the competition has been challenged by the European leagues and the French football federation, Noel Le Graet. According to them, the concept could reduce the status of national competitions and make it more difficult for smaller league clubs to win a place in the Champions League group stage.
Macron's first intervention on the changes in the Champions League took place earlier in the day during a visit to Clairefontaine, the base of the France team near Paris.
"We have to defend our model, our clubs," said Macron, "and I think it's not a good idea to sacrifice the viability of our model for the benefit of some at the European level." France is home to one of the greatest footballers. spending teams, with the Paris Saint-Germain which breaks the record of the number of transfers to sign Neymar in 2017 for 222 million euros (then 262 million dollars).
"We have often denounced the fact that there is so much money in football and especially in men's football in recent years," said Macron. "I stand alongside President Le Graet to defend the French model and avoid the reforms that would lead to the worst." Macron spoke after meeting French players and coaches preparing for the start of the Women's World Cup in Paris on Friday. .
Before the kickoff, FIFA and its regional confederations meet in the French capital where Infantino is gearing up for his unchallenged reelection on Wednesday.
Focus on discussion points around meetings:
Top 10 goals of the Champions League
2:00
CHINESE OFFERS
Get ready for a series of football events in China.
The first edition could be the organization of the first edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, which turned into 24 teams in 2021.
China is already sure to host the 2023 Asian Cup after being confirmed Tuesday in Paris.
And the president of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman, then said that he wanted the continent to unite behind a single candidate to host the 2030 World Cup, which probably means China.
"It's one of the biggest markets," said Sheikh Salman of Bahrain. "You look at the sponsors and the investment they've made." His booth echoes UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who only wants one European candidacy to avoid diluting his support.
Europe has 55 of the 211 member federations of FIFA and Asia 46. One of the expected candidates for Europe is a combined project of the British and Irish who met for the last time in a hotel opposite of the Asian football base this week in Paris. South America plans to form a coalition bringing together Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, hosting the World Cup football in 1930. FIFA has not announced calendar for auctions and voting.
The streets of Liverpool become wild
2:21
CHAMPION AFRICAN CHALLENGE
There have been protests outside the hotel where African football officials are staying this week.
Supporters of Tunisian hope have asked the African Football Confederation to maintain their team's controversial victory in the African Champions League final last week.
Esperance won last week when Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca refused to continue playing because its tying goal was canceled and no video replay was available. Players did not learn that the video system was not working.
After a long delay, Esperance won the title of the Champions League and a place in the 2019 Club World Cup.
But the CAF Executive Committee was discussing the incident and the results of the match.
"We are here to put pressure on them and tell them that the decision on the ground has to be confirmed," said Mehdi Ghandri of the group of Paris supporters of Hope.
"Let's talk about six, baby"
0:18
TURMOIL AFRICAN PRESIDENTIAL.
Infantino urged African members to "find solutions, not problems" among the allegations relating to the conduct of the leader of football on the continent. The president of the African Football Confederation, Ahmad, who uses only one name, has been accused by former secretary general Amr Fahmy of corrupting football badociation leaders and abusively used hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"I know that there is some turbulence," said Infantino at a CAF meeting. "I would urge you, at this difficult time, to keep your cool and keep the spirit of solidarity." — Sports writer Graham Dunbar from AP Sports contributed to this report.
Source link
